16/12/2021

Political hotspot December 2021 newsletter

On 23 November, the European Parliament approved the new CAP (2023-2027) Regulations. Now, Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans will be under intense scrutiny until their approval by the end of 2022.

In our report assessing CAP Strategic Plans, we highlighted that the level of ambition for measures and support to organic farming are not promising if the drafts remain unchanged.

Germany leading the way in reaching 25% organic land?
As European organic movement, we welcomed the decisions of the new German coalition to increase their national target for organic farmland to reach 30% by 2030 – instead of 20% in the previous draft – and allocate more research funding for organic. Germany should be seen as an example for large agricultural countries, highlighting the need to go beyond business as usual.

Will CAP Strategic Plans be part of the solution, or the problem?
Organic farming has proven positive effects on the environment and biodiversity and is part of the solution to address the current climate and biodiversity crises. Read more in our report ‘Organic farming and biodiversity’.

CAP Strategic Plans can still be relevant tools to boost organic farming and reach the targets set under the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. To achieve so, the European Commission will have to defend its Strategies and send relevant recommendations in its observation letters sent to Member States when reviewing the CAP Strategic Plans.

Are you advocating on a national CAP Strategic Plan?
Have a look at:

  • Our last report ‘The ambition gap’ assessing the current draft CAP Strategic Plans in 19 countries and highlighting key recommendations to level up the support for organic farming; and
  • Our publication ‘Organic in Europe – Prospects and developments for organic in national CAP Strategic Plans’ highlights potential targets for organic land at the national level, and how much of the national CAP budgets would need to be dedicated to organic farming in all Member States to reach these national targets and the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies’ average target of 25% organic land by 2030.

IFOAM Organics Europe will continue to inform its members regarding the development of this CAP reform. For more information on the CAP and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please contact [email protected]. Please do note that we prioritise our members’ requests.

Our members can also consult our arguments database on the member extranet for background materials on topic (main messages, arguments/FAQs, visuals & videos).

 
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