61 Amendments of Åsa WESTLUND related to 2011/0282(COD)
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To ensure the sustainable development of rural areas, it is necessary to focus on a limited number of core priorities relating to knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas, the competitiveness of all types of agriculture and farm viability, and food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture, restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependant on agriculture and forestry, resource efficiency and the shift towards a low carbon economy in the agricultural, food and forestry sectors, and promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and the economic development of rural areas. In doing so account must be taken of the diversity of situations that affect rural areas with different characteristics or different categories of potential beneficiaries and the cross-cutting objectives of innovation, environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation action should relate to both limiting emissions in agriculture and forestry from key activities such as livestock production, fertilizer use and to preserving the carbon sinks and enhancing carbon sequestration with regard to land use, land use change and the forestry sector. The Union priority for rural development relating to knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas should apply horizontally in relation to the other Union priorities for rural development.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Agri-environment-climate payments should continue to play a prominent role in supporting the sustainable development of rural areas and in responding to society's increasing demands for environmental services. They should further encourage farmers and other land managers to serve society as a whole by introducing or continuing to apply agricultural practices contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, the landscape and its features, natural resources, the soil and genetic diversity. In this context the conservation of genetic resources in agriculture and the additional needs of farming systems that are of high nature value should be given specific attention. Payments should contribute to covering additional costs and income foregone resulting from the commitments undertaken and should only cover commitments going beyond relevant mandatory standards and requirements, in accordance with the ‘polluter pays’ principle. In many situations the synergies resulting from commitments undertaken jointly by a group of farmers multiply the environmental and climate benefit. However, joint action brings additional transaction costs which should be compensated adequately. In order to ensure that farmers and other land managers are in a position to correctly implement the commitments they have undertaken, Member States should endeavour to provide them with the required skills and knowledge. Member States should maintain the level of efforts made during the 2007-2013 programming period and have to spend a minimum of 250% of the total contribution from the EAFRD to each rural development programme for climate change mitigation and adaptation and land management, through the agri- environment-climate, organic farming and payments to ameasureas facing natural or other specific constraints measuresunder priorities 4 and 5.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
(b) strengthening the links between sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry and research and innovation;
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The evolution and specialisation of agriculture and forestry and the particular challenges faced by micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter ‘SMEs’) in rural areas require an appropriate level of technical and economic training as well as an increased capacity to access and exchange knowledge and information including in the form of diffusion of best agricultural and forestry production practices. Knowledge transfer and information actions should take not only the form of traditional training courses but be adapted to the needs of rural actors. Workshops, coaching, demonstration activities, information actions but also short-term farm exchange or visit schemes should therefore also be supported. Knowledge and information acquired should enable farmers, forest holders, persons engaged in the food sector, NGOs, and rural SMEs to enhance in particular their competitiveness and resource efficiency and improve their environmental performance while at the same time contributing to the sustainability of the rural economy. In order to ensure that knowledge transfer and information actions are effective in delivering these results it should be required that the providers of knowledge transfer services have all the appropriate capabilities.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
(4) restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry, with a and agro-ecological and agro- forestry systems which focus on the following areas:
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
(4) restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry, as well as fostering sound animal husbandry, with a focus on the following areas:
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c
(c) improving soil structure, its resilience to erosion and extreme weather events, fertility and management.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c a (new)
(ca) sound animal husbandry;
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – introductory part
(5) promoting resource efficiencyenergy-saving and resource efficient use of agricultural resources and supporting the shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy in agriculture, food and forestry sectors, with a focus on the following areas:
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
(a) increasing saving of and efficiency in water use by agriculture;
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Farm advisory services help farmers, forest holders and SMEs in rural areas to improve the sustainable management and overall performance of their holding or business. Therefore both the setting up of such services and the use of advice by farmers, forest holders and SMEs should be encouraged. In order to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the advice offered, provision should be made for the minimum qualifications and regular training of advisors. Farm advisory services, as provided for in Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No HR/2012 of […]14 should help farmers assess the performance of their agricultural holding and identify the necessary improvements as regards the statutory management requirements, good agricultural and environmental conditions, agricultural practices beneficial to the climate and the environment set out in Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No DP/2012 of […]15 , requirements or actions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, protection of water and soil, advices on integrated pest management and use of non chemical alternatives, animal disease notification and innovation at least as laid down in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No HR/2012. Where relevant, advice should also cover occupational safety standards. Advice may also cover issues linked to the economic, agricultural and environmental performance of the holding or enterprise. Farm management and farm relief services should help farmers improve and facilitate management of their holding.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b
(b) increasing energy saving and efficiency in energy use in agriculture and food processing;
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In order to improve the economic and environmental performance of agricultural holdings and rural enterprises, improve the efficiency of the agricultural products marketing and processing sector, provide infrastructure needed for the development of agriculture and support non- remunerative investments necessary to achieve environmental aims, support should be provided to physical investments contributing to these aims including the use of biological control measures as a means of reducing or mitigating pests and pest effects such as the use of natural enemies and natural plant strengtheners, in the event that these measures are more expensive, on an annual basis, than their chemical counterparts. During the 2007- 2013 programming period a variety of measures covered different areas of intervention. In the interest of simplification but also of allowing beneficiaries to design and realise integrated projects with increased added value, a single measure should cover all types of physical investments. Member States should define a threshold for agricultural holdings eligible for aid for investments related to supporting farm viability based on the results of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (‘SWOT’) analysis as means to better target the aid.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) promote the training of advisors with the specific goal to promote advanced sustainable farming systems, such as organic farming.
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the sustainable development of the economical activity and environmental performance of the small farms as defined by the Member States and at least of the farms participating in the Small farmers scheme referred to in Title V of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012; or
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i – indent 2 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i – indent 2 a (new)
- short and local food supply chains, or
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) concern environmentally friendly infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture, including access to farm and forest land, land consolidation and improvement, energy saving and supply and, water management; or
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19
Article 19
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Support under paragraph 1(a) shall be conditional on the submission of a business plan including an impact assessment for improved environmental performance. Implementation of the business plan has to start within six months from the date of the decision granting the aid.
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Agri-environment-climate payments should continue to play a prominent role in supporting the sustainable development of rural areas and in responding to society's increasing demands for environmental services. They should include measures encouraging positive management of obligations established under Article 32, Chapter 2 of Title III of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012 to further stimulate their environmental delivery. They should further encourage farmers and other land managers to serve society as a whole by introducing or continuing to apply agricultural practices contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, the landscape and its features, natural resources, the soil and genetic diversity. In this context the conservation of genetic resources in agriculture and the additional needs of farming systems that are of high nature value should be given specific attention. Payments should contribute to covering additional costs and income foregone resulting from the commitments undertaken and should only cover commitments going beyond relevant mandatory standards and requirements, in accordance with the ‘polluter pays’ principle. In many situations the synergies resulting from commitments undertaken jointly by a group of farmers multiply the environmental and climate benefit. However, joint action brings additional transaction costs which should be compensated adequately. In order to ensure that farmers and other land managers are in a position to correctly implement the commitments they have undertaken, Member States should endeavour to provide them with the required skills and knowledge. Member States should maintain the level of efforts made during the 2007-2013 programming period and have to spend a minimum of 250% of the total contribution from the EAFRD to each rural development programme for climate change mitigation and adaptation and land management, through the agri- environment-climate, organic farming and payments to ameasureas facing natural or other specific constraints measuresunder priorities 4 and 5.
Amendment 173 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2
Article 29 – paragraph 2
2. Agri-environment-climate payments shall be granted to farmers, groups of farmers or groups of farmers and other land-managers who undertake, on a voluntary basis, to carry out operations coadopt farming practices and environmental management tools which respond to agro- environmental challenges in an integrated way. Priority shall be given to transisting of one or moreon into organic farming and other agrio- environment-climate commitments on agricultural landcological production systems. Climate schemes shall be targeted at improving the greenhouse gas reduction performance of the entire agricultural holding or farm system. Where duly justified to achieve environmental objectives, agri- environment-climate payments may be granted to other land- managers or groups of other land- managers. Member States should give priority to existing agro- environmental measures which have proven high environmental performance.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 5
Article 29 – paragraph 5
5. Commitments under this measure shall be undertaken for a period of five to seven years. However, where necessary in order to achieve or maintain the environmental benefits sought, Member States may determine a longer period in their rural development programmes for particular types of commitments, including by means of providing for their annual extension after the termination of the initial period. Member States may also determine a shorter period in the rural development programmes for particular types of commitments, if shown that the environmental benefits are not compromised.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
3. Commitments under this measure shall be undertaken for a period of five to seven years. Where support is granted for the maintenance of organic farming, Member States may provide in their rural development programmes for annual extension after the termination of the initial periodat least one year.
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
3. Commitments under this measure shall be undertaken for a period of five to seven years. Member States shall establish a mechanism to incentivise farmers in taking part in the follow-up measure after 2020 in order to encourage the uptake of this measure also after 2015. Where support is granted for the maintenance of organic farming, Member States may provide in their rural development programmes for annual extension after the termination of the initial period.
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) In order to contribute to the achievement of the aims of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability a EIP network should be set up in order to network operational groups, advisory services, NGOs, and researchers involved in the implementation of actions targeting innovation in agriculture. It should be financed as part of technical assistance at Union level.
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
Recital 51
(51) Rural development programmes should provide for innovative actions promoting a resource-efficient, productive, sustainable and low-emission agricultural sector, with the support of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability. The EIP should aim to promote a faster and wider transposition of innovative solutions into practice. The EIP should create added value by enhancing the uptake and effectiveness of innovation-related instruments and enhancing synergies between them. The EIP should fill gaps by better linking research and practical farming, and must encourage knowledge intensive agriculture.
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) Implementation of innovative projects in the context of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability should be undertaken by operational groups bringing together farmers, researchers, advisors, NGOs, businesses and other actors concerned by innovation in the agricultural sector. In order to ensure that results of such projects profit to the sector as a whole, their results should be disseminated.
Amendment 210 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the construction, acquisition, including leasing, or improvement of immovable property, giving priority to energy saving and climate friendly equipment;
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the purchase or lease purchase of new machinery and equipment including computing software up to the market value of the asset, giving priority to energy saving and climate friendly equipment;
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) promote a resource efficient and energy saving, productive, low emission, climate friendly and resilient agricultural sector, working in harmony with the essential natural resources on which farming depends;
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) focus on improveing processes to preserve the environment, promote agro- ecological production systems and low- input agricultural practices, adapt to climate change and mitigate it;
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 65 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. At least 50% of the total EAFRD contribution to the rural development programme shall be spent on measures under priority 4 and 5.
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(x a) 'non chemical methods' means alternative methods to pesticide and plant protection and pest management based on agronomic techniques such as though reference to in point 1 of annex III of Directive 2009/128/EC or physical, mechanical or biological pest control methods
Amendment 312 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
(a) fostering innovation, new ways of collaborating, and the knowledge base in rural areas;
Amendment 376 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – introductory part
(3) promoting food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture, with a focus on the following areas:
Amendment 383 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Amendment 388 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
(4) restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry, as well as fostering sound animal husbandry, with a focus on the following areas:
Amendment 392 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
(a) restoring and, preserving and enhancing biodiversity, including in Natura 2000 areas and high nature value farming, and the state of European landscapes;
Amendment 400 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c a (new)
(c a) sound animal husbandry.
Amendment 411 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
(a) increasing efficiency and sustainability in water use by agriculture;
Amendment 487 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) organic farming;
Amendment 554 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The support rates laid down in Annex I may be increased by 10 percentage points for operations supported in the framework of thematic sub-programmes concerning small farms, organic farming and short supply chains. In the case of young farmers and mountain areas, the maximum support rates may be increased in accordance with Annex I. However, the maximum combined support rate shall not exceed 90%.
Amendment 569 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – paragraph 1 – point iv
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – paragraph 1 – point iv
(iv) a pertinent approach towards innovation, the environment, including the specific needs of Natura 2000 areas, organic farming and climate change mitigation and adaptation is integrated into the programme;
Amendment 709 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
The authorities or bodies selected to provide advice shall have the appropriate resources in the form of regularly trained and qualified staff and advisory experience, independent from big commercial internationals, and reliability with respect to the fields they advise in. The beneficiaries shall be chosen through calls for proposals. The selection procedure shall be objective and be open to public as well as to private bodies.
Amendment 725 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) the requirements or actions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, the protection of water and soil, non chemical alternatives to artificial inputs, animal and plant disease notification and innovation as laid down in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No HR/2012;
Amendment 730 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the environmental delivery, sustainable development of theand economical activity of the small farms as defined by the Member States and at least of the farms participating in the Small farmers scheme referred to in Title V of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012; or
Amendment 736 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) the sustainable development and economic activity of organic farming as a minimum referred to under Regulation (EC) No 834/2007;
Amendment 858 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) concern the use of biological control measures as a means of reducing or mitigating pests and pest effects such as the use of natural enemies and natural plant strengtheners, in the event that these measures are more expensive, on an annual basis, than their chemical counterparts.
Amendment 1309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Agri-environment-climate payments should include measures encouraging positive management of obligations established under Article 32, Chapter 2 of Title III of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012 to further stimulate their environmental delivery. Such measures should be tailored to the land concerned to achieve maximum environmental benefit.
Amendment 1547 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37
Article 37
Amendment 1568 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 37 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 1592 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38
Article 38
Amendment 1604 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 39
Article 39
Amendment 1625 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 40
Article 40
Amendment 1665 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41
Article 41
Amendment 1856 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) promote a resource efficient, productive, knowledge intensive, low emission, climate friendly and resilient agricultural sector, working in harmony with, and integrated into, the essential natural resources on which farming depends;
Amendment 1867 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) build bridges between cutting-edge research knowledge and technology and farmers, businesses, NGOs and advisory services.
Amendment 1891 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 62 – paragraph 1
Article 62 – paragraph 1
1. EIP operational groups shall form part of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability. They shall be set up by interested actors such as farmers, researchers, advisors, NGOs and businesses involved in the agriculture and food sector.
Amendment 1975 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 65 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. A minimum of 50% of the total EAFRD contribution to the rural development programme shall be reserved for climate change mitigation and adaptation and sustainable land management through measures under priorities 4 and 5. The level achieved in this area during the programming period 2007-2013 shall be at the very least maintained.