The European Commission aims to relax existing agricultural regulations, especially those concerning the environment and climate. At the same time, there is division in Brussels over this policy shift.
The Commission's plans partly respond to the months-long farmers' protests last year in several European countries. These protests have put political pressure on EU policymakers in Brussels.
A leaked version of the proposal shows that Brussels mainly wants to impose less control and paperwork on smaller farmers. If farmers are unable to meet their obligations due to extreme situations, they should more easily be granted exemptions in the future. They feel that the current rules weigh too heavily on daily farm operations.
An important point in the proposal concerns the environmental rules farmers must comply with to receive funding from the European agricultural budget. At the same time, opponents in the European Parliament warn that these changes could be dangerous for nature and the climate. Environmental groups and green parties worry that Brussels is primarily yielding to street pressure, while environmental goals recede into the background.
Dutch Member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP/ECR) says it is important for him and his party that the rules become less strict. He believes the current manner in which Brussels imposes regulations does not work for farms. According to him, farmers should be given more trust to decide what works best in their situation.
The plans the Commission presents on Wednesday do not only concern agricultural regulations. Commissioner Hanssen is also anticipating the upcoming updates to the Nitrates Directive and EU Water Policy. Moreover, the agricultural lobby in Brussels must be aware that, in the multiannual budget, significant shifts (read: cuts) will be made to agricultural budgets.
Although the Commission presents the package as a solution to practical problems, multiple reactions and forecasts show that the European Parliament is deeply divided on the proposals. Some parties consider the changes to go too far, while others believe they do not go far enough to truly help farmers.