Quote:The European Commission (EC) has proposed a series of measures to respond to the demonstrations called by farmers in several states that are members of the community club in recent weeks and where the primary sector has protested on issues such as European ecological policies or trade agreements. . Brussels’ proposals in response to rural demands are:
Withdraw the bill to reduce pesticide use

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Tuesday that she will withdraw the proposed law that proposes binding objectives at the national and European Union levels to reduce the use of alcohol by 50% throughout the community club, the risk of chemical pesticides, and the use of the most dangerous pesticides in 2030. Von der Leyen stated in the European Parliament that the law has become “a symbol of polarization” and recalled that it was rejected by the European Parliament itself last November.

The Member States, co-legislators of the community club with the European Parliament, were also unable to advance the file. Due to this scenario, the president of the EC assured that he would involve the agricultural sector more in creating a new legislative project to reduce pesticides. “The Commission can make a new, more mature proposal with the participation of interested parties,” he said.
Recovery of fallow during 2024

The European Commission also proposed to withdraw by 2024 the rule forcing farmers to keep part of their arable land, a move demanded by the protesters. The initiative of the Community Executive will allow EU farmers not to apply this rule throughout the year 2024, retroactively from January 1, and continue to receive direct payments from the Common Agricultural Policy. In sweet soil, farmers can plant nitrogen-fixing crops (lentils, peas, or beans) or catch crops on 7% of their arable land.
Protection against Ukrainian imports

Demonstrations by farmers emerged a few months ago in countries close to Ukraine, such as Poland, where they complained that the increase in agri-food imports to Ukraine due to the suspension of tariffs meant competition, which they could not face. In 2022, the community club suspended tariffs on Ukrainian imports to support Kiev against Russian aggression and has expanded this measure since then. Last week, Brussels proposed to extend it for another year, until June 2025, but introduced safeguards in case one or more countries saw their agricultural markets affected.
Reduction of administrative burden

On Thursday, Von der Leyen announced that the Commission plans to present a proposal in the coming weeks aimed at reducing the administrative burden on farmers.
Strategic dialogue on agriculture

The president of the European Commission announced a strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in September, but it was launched on January 25. The purpose of the initiative is to listen to the parties in the sector and reach a consensus in the medium- and long-term terms of agriculture and livestock.
Cut emissions without mentioning agriculture

This week, the Community Executive proposed that the European Union adopt as a goal for 2040 a “net” cut in CO2 emissions of 90% compared to 1990, but the proposal omits direct references to the effort that should be made in the agricultural sector.
Mercosur Earrings

One of the issues criticized by the farmers is free trade agreements, such as the one that has not been concluded with the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay), because they consider the arrival of agri-food products in the community club without compliance, following, as unfair competition, the standards of Twenty-Seven. Currently, the EC has confirmed that the conditions for the termination of this agreement have not been met.