In the European Union, almost all previously established plans are being reconsidered as Brussels tries to absorb the consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine. There are hardly any sacred cows anymore: the European agricultural sector and food supply are also back on the agenda.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine not only brings the Ukrainian grain export to a halt, but the European (financial and economic) sanctions against Russia and Belarus are also disrupting European and international trade. This could possibly lead to various shortages later this year, but no one knows how long this war will last.
More clarity about 'reconsidering' or 'adjusting' the Green Deal, the organic plans, and the farm-to-fork strategy may emerge as early as Monday evening. The coordinators (group leaders) of the Agriculture Committee are preparing on Monday evening for their meeting on April 20 and 21, aiming to make the first official decisions then. Commissioner for Agriculture Wojciechowski also said last week that he wants to make decisions during the April meetings.
The issue of high gas prices and expensive fertilizer may possibly be “cut out” from many other agricultural and food issues now arising. On Tuesday, a previously promised report on “expensive energy” and what can be done about it will be released.
In that case, it is expected that, aside from that energy note, a separate agri/agriculture task package will be created. This will also revive earlier plans for the production of European biogas from manure processing, as became clear last week.
According to reports, Brussels is now planning a temporary buyback scheme in the pork sector and will open the “disaster fund.” Earlier, Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) called for compensation for affected sectors.
Also on Monday evening, the ENVI-Environment Committee of the European Parliament will meet, with Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans in attendance. Last week, he already gave a political-ideological “preview” about the massive scale of the decisions that now need to be made. Now that the EU has decided to cut all ties with the Russian gas supplier Gazprom, the EU urgently needs to find other energy sources.
If necessary, the EU will have to keep coal mines and coal-fired power plants operational a bit longer, Timmermans said. Less than two weeks ago, that would have been blasphemy in the “green church”...
Last week, at the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers, some friction arose between French Minister Julien Denormandie and Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski over whether the EU agricultural policy needs only to be “monitored” or must already be “adjusted” due to the Putin war. Denormandie pointed out that within a few months North Africa and the Middle East will be without grain, and that food shortages have previously triggered uprisings in those regions.
Wojciechowski, on the other hand (and reportedly several Agriculture Ministers as well), wants first an overview and a thorough action plan, and also wants to discuss the EU food course with his fellow Commissioners first. More clarity on that will probably come on Wednesday (the regular Commission meeting day).