Activities of Michl EBNER related to 2008/2066(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Hill and mountain farming (short presentation)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the situation and outlook for hill and mountain farming PDF (213 KB) DOC (120 KB)
Amendments (35)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas they have specific features (gradient, height differences, inaccessibility, growth, shorter natural growing periods, low soil class index, weather conditions) which make them different from other landscapes in the European Union and they are in many respects 'disadvantaged',
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the economy of mountain areas is particularly sensitive to fluctuations in the economic cycle, because of permanent structural shortcomings, and, in the long term, is dependent on diversification and specialisation of production processes,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas there are already European legal instruments for the protection of a number of mountain areas - the Alpine Convention and the Carpathian Convention - which, accordingly, are important instruments for an integrated policy on mountain areas, though they have not been fully ratified and implemented,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. at the same time, urges the Commission to develop, within its remit, a specific, integrated strategy for the sustainable development and use of resources in mountain areas within six months; also calls for national action programmes containing specific implementation measures to be drawn up on this basis; __________ by arrangement with regional authorities and civil society representatives familiar with and defending local interests and needs on the spot (e.g. as regards the different types of massif), with account to be taken accordingly of existing regional initiatives1;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. calls foron the Commission to produce an overview of programmes and projects funded on topics of relevance to mountain areas for the purpose of transferring knowledge and promoting innovation;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. notes that farming in mountain regions and therefore the degree of husbandry needed for multifunctionality involves greater effort (e.g. labour intensity, manual labour) and higher costs (e.g. special machinery, cost of transporting products into and out of valleys) due to natural conditions;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for specific and greater account to be taken of the multifunctionality of mountain and hill farming in future CAP reforms by bringing the framework directives for rural development and national programmes into line with the role of mountain and hill farmers not only as producers but also as economic forerunners for other sectors and that scope be created for synergetic collaboration (e.g. funding for ecotourism programmes, marketing for high-quality products; points in particular to the need for charges to be made for mountain farming's ecological benefits;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. pays tribute to the work carried out by mountain farmers; notes that the framework conditions for mountain farming (particularlyabove all as regards supplementary jobs or, combined wage models, reconciling family and work and starting a family) should not be complicated by red tape, but should be improved through the fusion of sectoral policies; calls on the Commission and the competent committees (comitology) to review existing and prospective rules (above all on compulsory registers) in keeping with the 'better regulation' initiative and/or to make them less complicated with a view to comprehensive simplification of administrative procedures;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. emphasises that compensatory payments in mountain areas are also justified in the longer term due to the lack of alternative production, that mountain areas' needs cannot be covered solely from rural- development funding and that full decoupling would lead to a systematic reduction in activity affecting all sectors;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. calls for more assistance for young farmers and equal opportunities for men and women (particularly through family- friendly measures and rules on full-time and part-time working) as vital factor, combined-wage models, supplementary-jobs models, reconciling family and work, starting a family) as vital factors; calls on the Commission to devise approaches, with stakeholder involvement, as part of 'flexicurity' discussions and projects;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. emphasises that producer associations make an important contribution to the stability and security of agricultural production and should be given greater support in keeping with sustainable farming strategies;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. calls for special financial assistance for the dairy sector which plays a key role in mountain areas given the lack of alternative production; calls for a "soft landing" strategy to be adopted for mountain areas during the milk quota reform, and for additional measures to reduce any negative impact(compensatory payments in particular) to reduce any negative impact, leaving necessary leeway for the adjustment processes introduced and preserving the basis for comprehensive farming, with additional funds to be made available under the first pillar;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for special assistance measures as a result of increased costs and efforts needed, in particular for delivering milk and dairy products in valleys; calls for the introduction of a dairy cow fund for mountain areas;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. underlines the cross-sectoral importance of typical (high quality) products; asks that the 'strategy' include measures to protect these products or their manufacturing procedures; calls for provision to be made for possible assistance for high-quality foodstuffs (e.g. from mountain pasture or farm cheese dairies, high-quality meat) to be specially identified in EU assistance programmes;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16.calls for guaranteed targeted special financial assistance for mountain regions, in accordance with Article 69 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, and specific access to this assistance with minimum red tape, and for the upper limit for resources under Article 69 to be raised to 20%;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. calls for the interests of mountain livestock breedersbreeders and farmers of livestock in mountain areas, in particular of indigenous breeds of livestock, to be taken into account in animal health, animal protection and animal breeding provisions (breeding programmes, keeping herd books, compliance checks, etc.);
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses that the Commission contributes to the development of mountain areas through its competition policy and international trade actions; calls on it in this context to address those areas' needs in a more targeted fashion and to a greater extent in connection with future adjustments, in particular at World Trade Organisation negotiations and as regards state aid rules and factoring public services of general interest into competition law;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. calls for the 'strategy' to cover the different types of landscape in mountain areas (mountain pastures, protected forests, high mountains, meadows) and to make provision for ideas on the sustainable use of mountain pastures, grassland and forests in order to combat unwelcome developments such as ending grazing on land, which then reverts to its wild state or over-grazing;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Points up, with regard to preserving species diversity, the need to establish repositories of indigenous genetic material from animal and plant species, particularly indigenous farm animals and mountain flora; calls on the Commission to examine whether, and how, the international action plan initiative can be launched;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Points to the potential of sustainable forest management through establishing value-added supply chains for timber which, from forest to final product, would create and preserve a large number of high quality jobs;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. points out that mountains form natural barriers, and in many instances are also national barriers, which makes cross- border, transnational and interregional cooperation - and the promotion thereof - essential given the problems in common (e.g. climate change, animal diseases, loss of biodiversity);
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. emphasises that land that is not suitable for cultivation and production is best used to promote the preservation of forests, sustainable hunting and fishing etc. to prevent it reverting to its wild state and to prevent fire hazards, erosion and biodiversity loss;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. recognises the successes achieved in mountain areas in the fields of nature protection, biodiversity and habitat preservation by the designation of "Natura 2000" areas and nature reserves and calls for increased interlinking of those areas by introducing a minimum proportion of ecological offset land in farming areas (possibly 5%);
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. calls on the Commission to give its full backing to nominating mountain areas for inclusion on the world heritage list and to avail itself of all the international opportunities available to protect these regions (e.g. ratification of the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions and protocols); applauds the work of organisations and research institutes dedicated to the cause of mountain areas;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. points to their unique water resources, which can be used sustainably for natural irrigation and as a source of drinking water and energy; highlights the need in this connection, and so as to prevent any conflicts, to devise solutions, collaboratively, for the use of water resources throughout the areas concerned;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. highlights the importance of the voluntary sector (especially mountain rescue, civil protection, charities) with regard to services and the cultural and natural heritage in the mountains and as the social capital basis for an innovative society;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Applauds the work of organisations and research institutes dedicated to the cause of mountain areas and stresses that use must be made of their expertise and motivation in order to develop the strategy and similar measures;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. points to the role played by the promotion of part-time basic and further vocational training and of efficient local services in maintaining population levels and for competitiveness; calls for targeted support to be given to local en- in the very interests of diversifying vocational capacities and opportunities - of 'lifelong learning' initiatives working as services of general interestand projects;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Points to the need for efficient local services in maintaining population levels and for competitiveness; calls for targeted support to be given to local entities working as services of general interest;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Stresses the importance of 'transition zones' between plains and mountain areas for providing high-value private and public infrastructure facilities and services (e.g. universities, airports, hospitals); calls for support to make such facilities more easily accessible, particularly by means of public transport;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. points to the dependence of mountains and glaciers on climate change, because of their topographical features and structural disadvantages, as well as to their potential as a 'test laboratory' for innovative technologies on climate protection that imitate Nature1; calls on the Commission to devise a discriminating climate approach for mountain areas and, in the process, to draw on existing knowledge (e.g. Alpine and Carpathian Conventions; calls for research activities and transitional measures;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Stresses that sustainable agriculture and the development of mountain areas are of importance to the population not only of those areas, but also of adjoining areas (e.g. plains), with the strategy called for also influencing sustainability in these areas as regards water supply, environmental stability, biodiversity, balanced population distribution and cultural diversity; calls on the Commission to examine, in the 'strategy', how existing initiatives for the integration of mountain areas and adjoining areas can usefully be incorporated into the strategy;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Instructs its Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to monitor the resolution's progress in the Council and Commission;