Three major European nature umbrella organizations say that the national strategic plans submitted so far for the new European agricultural policy are absolutely insufficient. The World Wildlife Fund, the Birdlife Foundation, and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) state that at most about twenty percent of the NSP measures submitted so far contribute to nature restoration.
For the study, Birdlife Europe, the European Environment Bureau (EEB), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) examined the strategic plans of 21 EU countries. They reach the preliminary conclusion that 40 percent of the proposed plans miss the mark, and that a further forty percent could work with some adjustments.
Additionally, they criticize that many programs that are likely to have an effect are underfunded and will probably be sidelined by less demanding but financially more attractive programs.
Furthermore, the three nature organizations insist that the eco-schemes should be financially appealing to farmers so that they can also be called upon in the area and be effective. As is known, member states have until January 1 to submit their strategic plans for approval in Brussels.
The authors of the study acknowledge that the drafts of national CAP plans can still be modified before they are finally submitted. Nevertheless, the current versions already provide "valuable" information on how the €48.5 billion for eco-schemes would be spent.
It is known from some countries that they will earmark a large part of the former 'income support' as rewards and premiums for elements of nature conservation that are already being paid by governments (from other funds!).
Therefore, the three nature organizations call for a critical review of the national strategic plans for the CAP by the European Commission. It is so far unclear whether EU countries will make their NSPs public. However, Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has stated that he will make his response to those plans public.
The European Commission has informed the agricultural umbrella organizations COPA-Cogeca that it will carefully check all NSPs for compliance with the principles of the European Green Deal. The staff members of COPA-Cogeca had a meeting last week with Wolfgang Burtscher, the highest EU official (DG) for Agriculture and Rural Development.
They once again emphasized that, in their view, the aim of the EU agricultural policy is to produce healthy, safe, and affordable food. They pointed out that the new NSPs impose new climate and environmental obligations. The Farm to Fork strategy sets high targets for reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.