77 Amendments of Hilde VAUTMANS related to 2018/2037(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Affirms that EU trade and agriculture policies are closely intertwined and will remain so in the future, given the important role of agriculture in the context of negotiations both bilaterally for EU free trade agreements and multilaterally at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), on issues such as market access for agricultural products, the protection of geographical indications, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules, harmonisation of animal welfareprudent use of antimicrobial medicines, ensuring that the agricultural products imported to the internal market are produced respecting the rules on animal welfare and other food safety standards of the EU and other standards, and the simplification of import procedures;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission, in the context of ongoing and future bilateral trade negotiations with third countries, guarantee the global level playing field and to approach with the utmost care the liberalisation of market access in sensitive agricultural sectors and to consider transition periods, tariff-rate quotas, appropriate safeguarding measures and the possible exclusion of the most sensitive products from the scope of the agreement after a case-by-case consideration; notes that this predominantly concerns beef, other meat, rice, wheat, other cereals, sugar, and dairy products;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to the EU Forest Strategy,
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the European Union’s overarching objective of multifunctional agriculture, driven by family farms, sector remains key to delivering the positive externalities and public goods that European citizens demand;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the new delivery model (NDM) is at the core of the Commission’s communication on the Future of Food and Farming, and is to be welcomed, provided that it ensures genuine simplification, not only at EU level but also at Member State and regional level, and flexibility for farmerand simplification for beneficiaries, without adding new constraints on Member States and thus a new layer of complexity, while safeguarding the functioning of the internal market and a level playing field;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the CAP must play an important role in strengthening the competitiveness of the sector and enable overcoming stagnation and volatility of farm incomes which, despite the concentration and intensification of production and increasing productivity, are still lower than in the rest of the economy;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change, as farming depends directly on weather conditions such as rainfall and temperature;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas it is essential to ensure a fair standard of living for farmers across regions and Member States ensuring there is agricultural activity in all parts of the Union including in areas with natural constraints, affordable prices for citizens and consumers, and access to high quality food and healthy diets, while delivering on the commitments for environmental care, climate action, and animal and plant health and welfare;
Amendment 196 #
Ha. whereas the one-size-fits-all model does not work; whereas there is a need for an updated and fairer system of payments;
Amendment 213 #
I. whereas the emergence of new challenges and opportunities, such as increasing global trade, is necessitating fair and sustainable conditions for the global exchange of goods and services, within the framework of the WTO and in accordance with existing EU social, economic and environmental, sanitary and phytosanitary as well as animal welfare standards, which should be promoted in order to create a genuine level playing field within and outside the EU;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas while the focus on research and development for both product and process innovation is to be welcomed, more must be done to translate the results of research into farming practice, facilitated by EU-widpublic and private agricultural extension services all over the EU;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the agriculture and food sector must be incentivised including through reducing hinders and regulatory and administrative burdens to continue to contribute to the environmental care and climate action objectives of the EU set out in international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the UN SDGs;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the European Union in the future CAP must strive for a significant limitation in the use of antibiotics in the agriculture and food sector to strengthen sustainable farming;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the European Court of Auditors has underlined the fact that the green payments introduced as part of the 2013 reform create added complexity and bureaucracy, are difficult to understand, and fail to significantly enhance the CAP’s environmental and climate performance; which is important to bear in mind when designing the new green architecture for CAP
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the objectives of the Cork 2.0 Declaration for a Better Life in Rural Areas stipulate vibrant rural areas, multi- functionality, biodiversity in and outside agriculture, forestry, rare animal breeds and conservation crops, as well as organic agriculture, less-favoured areas and commitments in the context of Natura 2000;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas it is essential to ensure fair competition within the single market within the sector and to deal fairly and transparently with other players in the food chain , both up and downstream, and to further strengthen incentives to prevent crises with active management tools to be deployed at sectoral level and by public authorities;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
Na. whereas circular economy and bio economy will contribute to new business models of farmers which are often also forest owners whilst fostering rural areas;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas many roles played by women in rural areas help to maintain viable farm businesses and rural communities;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q b (new)
Recital Q b (new)
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the intention to simplify and modernise the CAP, but emphasises that the integrity of the single market and, the position of the farmer and ensuring a truly common policy must be the overriding priorities of reform;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of an equal playing field for farmers;
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that subsidiarity for Member States should only be granted within a common setframework ofn rules and tools agreed at EU level as part of a uniform approach to all programming efforts and eligibility criteria, this common framework on rules and tools should cover both of the CAP’s pillars and ensure, in particular, a European approach in Pillar I and thus a level playing field;
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that subsidiarity for Member States should only be granted within a common setframework ofn rules and tools agreed at EU level as part of a uniform approach to all programming efforts and eligibility criteria, should cover both of the CAP’s pillars and ensure, in particular, a European approach in Pillar I and thus a level playing field;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the efforts of the Commission to establish programme design, implementation and control ofn an output-based approach for the CAP with less bureaucracy, simplified procedures and greater transparency of objectives and tools, in order to foster performance rather than compliance, while ensuring adequate and proportional risk based monitoring via clearly defined, solid and measurable indicators at EU level, including an appropriate system of quality control and penalties;
Amendment 482 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reminds, that in the previous reform the definition of an “active farmer” was difficult to agree, therefore the output of a farm could be a better- targeted and measurable solution (e.g. keeping land in good agricultural state, implementing good animal husbandry, contributing to circular economy) to define an "active" farmer;
Amendment 483 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that all the actors in the process of control of Union finances, including the European Court of Auditors, must have the same understanding on the performance based control system so that the Member States or the beneficiaries are not faced with unexpected financial corrections;
Amendment 487 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that part-time farmers and farmers with income combination must not be excluded;
Amendment 500 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to grant more flexibility to Member States and regions as well as farmers within the framework of the agricultural de minimis rules;
Amendment 540 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for annual mapping on EU- level of different conditions for farmers in member states which affects competitiveness and a level playing field on the internal market.
Amendment 544 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Believes that the current two-pillar structure fits the purpose and meets the challenges of the farmers, but reminds that the two-pillar system needs improvement to allow the CAP to align itself with other EU-policies and objectives;
Amendment 549 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Commission for a CAP that achieves more innovation, contributes to advance the bio-economy and to solutions to biodiversity, environment and climate;
Amendment 550 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers that this mapping exercise should focus on regulatory and financial condition and specifically aspects outside the scope of the CAP;
Amendment 552 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Considers that this mapping exercise would be a good basis for fruitful exchange of best practices between member states in order to further promote competitiveness and a level playing field of the EU Agricultural sector;
Amendment 576 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Believes that due to different challenges affecting the EU the opportunity must be seized to simplify and modernize the CAP by better targeting the use of CAP support and move towards a market driven agriculture;
Amendment 588 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Sees furthermore this as an opportunity to modernise the financing of the CAP and to ensure that it provides maximum EU added value for all citizens;
Amendment 615 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that more targeted support for family farms is necessary and can be achieved by introducing a compulsorvoluntarily higher support rate for small farmsand medium- sized farms; for which the member states should be able to define the criteria; considers, moreover, that support for larger farms should be digressive, reflecting economies of scale, with the possibility for capping to be decided by the Member States;
Amendment 649 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the necessity of identifying the key elements of a transparent and objective and predictable system of penalties and incentives for determining farmers’ eligibility for public funding, which should consist of simple voluntary and mandatory measures and reflects the targeted and result-based approach in order to foster performance rather than compliance;
Amendment 667 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the existing system for calculating direct payments in Pillar I, which is often based on historic entitlements, to be replaced by an EU-wide uniform method of calculating payments, taking in to account the differences in agricultural activities and structures in the member states and regions, in order to make the system simpler and more transparent;
Amendment 704 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Believes that the one-size-fits-all system does not function;
Amendment 710 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls to allow for flexibility to choose the policy design best suited for national circumstances;
Amendment 727 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need for a fairmore level playing field distribution of direct payments between Member States, which must take into account the fact that natural conditions, socio-economic differences, general living standards, different production costs and the amounts differenceived by Member States under Pillar IIs in purchasing power are not the same around Europe;
Amendment 762 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that an EU flat-rate payment system would not quite reflect EU agricultural diversity;
Amendment 768 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that, providedunder the condition that a level playing field in the sSingle mMarket can beis guaranteed, voluntary coupled support (VCS) paymentsall kind of sector specific support should be maintained, as a tool to counteract specific difficulties, particularly those arising from the structural competitive disadvantage of less-favoured and mountainous regions, as well as those which are more temporary in nature and arise from a shift away from the old entitlement scheme, for exampleegrated into voluntary measures and strictly linked to the provision of goods and services as established in the dedicated development strategies elaborated in all MS within a common EU framework;
Amendment 781 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that, provided that a level playing field in the single market can be guaranteed, without distortion effect on internal market; voluntary coupled support (VCS) payments should be maintained, as a tool to maintain production in vulnerable sectors, to counteract specific difficulties, particularly those arising from the structural competitive disadvantage of less- favoured and mountainous regions, as well as those which are more temporary in nature and arise from a shift away from the old entitlement scheme, for example;
Amendment 787 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that, provided that a level playing field in the single market can be guaranteed, voluntary coupled support (VCS) payments should be maintained, as a tool to counteract specific difficulties, particularly those arising from the structural competitive disadvantage of for instance less- favoured and mountainous regions, as well as those which are more temporary in nature and arise from a shift away from the old entitlement scheme, for example;
Amendment 836 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that generational renewal is a challenge faced by farmers in many Member States and that each national strategy must therefore address this issue through a comprehensive approach, including top-ups in Pillar I and targeted measures in Pillar II, as well as by means of new financial instruments and national measures, in order to incentivise famers to pass on their farming operations, considers that the state aid rules should allow these measures in the future;
Amendment 840 #
15a. Recalls that the generation renewal and the installation of young farmers must be encouraged by measures of CAP keeping in mind that it is also highly dependent on the overall income perspective, the image of agriculture and the quality of life in rural areas that can be improved through rural development measures like easing their access to land, loans and credits as well as priority access to national reserve funds;
Amendment 881 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the importance of rural development, including the LEADER initiative, in, to supporting multi-functional agriculture and in, forestry and less favoured areas also with a view to fostering additional entrepreneurial activities and opportunities, in orderpossibilities to generate income fromlike agrio-tourism, and to securefarm diversification, sustainable production of bioenergy, community- supported agriculture and the provision of social services in rural areas;
Amendment 901 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Underlines the importance of the whole forest-wood-chain for rural areas in creating jobs, growth and social stability, renewable energy production and transition to bio economy; highlights in this context also the role of actively managed forests for the use of the renewable resource wood for the reduction of anthropogenic carbon and the creation of new value chains in accordance with circular bio economy;
Amendment 915 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Reminds that the overall objective has to be the improvement of the quality of life in rural areas;
Amendment 943 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to introduce a new and comprehensive legal framework which allows the integration and simplification of the various types of environmental actions at present, such as cross compliance, greening and the good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) standards, as well as agri- environment measures (AEMs) for rural development, so that farmerbeneficiaries can deliver effectively and with less bureaucracyower administrative burden on environmental care, biodiversity and climate action, while ensuring that Member States have adequate control and taking into account local conditions;
Amendment 965 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses the importance to promote and enhance the role of co-operatives, producers groups and small scale organisations over the long term for supporting the implementation of the CAP objectives;
Amendment 976 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Stresses, in the context of rural development, the need to recognise the important role of multifunctional, actively and sustainably managed forests in tackling EU challenges related to climate, environment, and to social and economic sustainability;
Amendment 997 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that this new framework should be underpinned by the possible allocation of a minimum amount of the total available budget to AEMs, including organic agriculture, support for biodiversity and genetic diversity in animals and plants;
Amendment 1003 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Welcomes the Commissions priority to strengthen agricultural resilience towards climate change impacts;
Amendment 1005 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Believes that a comprehensive catalogue of mandatory (regulatory, currently cross-compliance)and voluntary-based (current Greening and agri-environmental) measures would improve transparency and benefits regarding the CAP;
Amendment 1013 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls for the strengthening and implementation of climate smart agriculture measures as future impacts from climate change on agriculture in Europe will increase;
Amendment 1017 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Calls on the Commission to enable Member States to allocate funds in order to support better animal welfare standards and practices that goes beyond the minimum EU-standards;
Amendment 1022 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to foster innovation, research and modernisation in agriculture by supporting training and agriculturalby supporting a strong advisory system and training better adapted to needs of CAP beneficiaries; training and extension as a pre-condition in programme design and implementation in all Member States, while fostering the transfer of know-how and the exchange ofknow-how transfer and best practice models exchange between Members States;
Amendment 1056 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Reminds that access to advisory services that propose farm-tailored solutions are major drivers for innovation in agriculture and forestry and the rural economy;
Amendment 1060 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Underlines that the Commission should be regularly evaluating such a support and measuring innovation and modernisation wherever possible;
Amendment 1062 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that investment in innovation is the key for more competitiveness and empowerment of farmers;
Amendment 1075 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Believes that investments in innovation, education and training are vital for the future of European agriculture;
Amendment 1081 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Notes that each farm is different and therefore individual solutions are needed;
Amendment 1091 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to maintain the current common market organisation (CMO) framework, and reminds on the already achieved changes within the Omnibus regulation including the individual sector plans (wine, and fruit and vegetables) and the EU, school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme,) with the ultimate aim of strengthening the sustainability and competiveness of each sector while enabling access for all farmers; ;
Amendment 1129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Insists on the critical need for the future CAP to support farmersto create market conditions stimulating the development of private risk management schemes to farmers in order for them to more efficiently in orderbe able to cope with price and income volatility due to climate, health and market risks, by creating additional incentives for flexible risk management and stabilisation tools while ensuring broad access, the role of the CAP in this regards should be fully examined;
Amendment 1133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Insists on the critical need for the future CAP to support farmers more efficiently in order to cope with price and income volatility due to climate, health, political crises (such as the Russia ban) and market risks, by creating additional incentives for flexible risk management and stabilisation tools while ensuring broad access;
Amendment 1145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Amendment 1159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Believes that farmers should be given all the necessary tools to respond to volatility and market signals through greater transparency of markets and free and fair trade conditions;
Amendment 1239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that while trade agreements are beneficial to the EU agricultural sector overall, and necessary for strengthening the EU’s position on the global agricultural market, that sector specific sensibilities have to be taken in to account, and that they also pose a number of challenges that require reinforced safeguard mechanisms to ensure a level playing field between farmers in the EU and in the rest of the world;
Amendment 1250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Highlights the fact that WTO partners also support their agriculture sector, and that any move towards further liberalisation cannot be made in a purely unilateral way, as it would expose EU farmers to unfair competition;
Amendment 1263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Reminds that products entering the EU should respect European animal welfare and environmental standards;
Amendment 1271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Stresses that it would increase the risk of exporting EU domestic production abroad, at the expense of rural development, the environment, and in certain instances food quality;
Amendment 1272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 d (new)
Paragraph 25 d (new)
25d. Underlines that this approach should also enlighten the debates surrounding future trade deals (Mercosur, New Zealand, Australia, etc.) and their impact on agriculture in Europe;
Amendment 1278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for clear and transparent initiatives to promote EU production, safety and environmental standards and quality production schemes, through both labelling and marketing activities on internal and third-country markets;
Amendment 1331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to propose, before the application of the NDM, a transitional period long enough to ensure a soft landing and tond considering the introduction of National Strategic Plans, a transitional period long enough to ensure a soft landing which ensures time for Member States to orderly and properly implement the new policy and avoid any delay in farmers’ annual payments and in the implementation of rural development programmes;
Amendment 1334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to propose, before the application of the NDM, a transitional period long enough to ensure a soft landing and to avoid any delay in farmers’ annual payments and in the implementation of rural development programmmeasures;