The Regulation will enter into force tomorrow – The President of the European Commission points out in a written statement that “we will soon put forward more proposals to help ease the pressure our farmers face”
THE European Commission formally approved a regulation granting a partial exemption to European farmers from the set-aside rule. This follows the Commission’s proposal submitted on 31 January and discussions with Member States at committee meetings. The Regulation will enter into force tomorrow, February 14, and will apply retroactively from January 1 for one year – that is, until December 31, 2024.
At the same time, the President of the European Commission points out in her written statement that “soon we will present more proposals to help ease the pressure our farmers are facing”.
The President of the European Commission also notes that “only if our farmers can live off their land will they invest in the future and only if we achieve our climate and environmental goals together will farmers be able to continue to live. Our farmers know this well. This measure offers flexibility to farmers while continuing to reward them for their critical work in promoting EU food security and sustainability.”
The partial exemption meets many requests for more flexibility, as requested by member states to better respond to the challenges faced by EU farmers, the European Commission says.
Instead of keeping land fallow or maintaining non-productive features on 4% of their arable land, EU farmers who have nitrogen-fixing crops (such as lentils, peas or fava beans) and/or catch crops without plant protection products on 4% of of arable land are considered to meet the so-called GAEC requirement 8. Those farmers who decide to do so may, however, continue to meet the requirement with land lying fallow or with non-productive characteristics.
The final act adopted also allows Member States to modify their ecological systems supporting non-productive areas to take into account the alternative baseline under the terms of GAEC 8. A simple notification to the European Commission will be sufficient for the immediate updating the relevant ecological systems
Member States wishing to apply the derogation at national level must inform the Commission within 15 days of the entry into force of the regulation, so that farmers can be informed as soon as possible.
Source :Skai
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