C’est la rentrée. We’re back! Offices in Brussels’ European quarter are filling up, EU institutions are gearing up for a new term, and even the sky is greying over—though with traffic having (probably) tripled, it is hard to know where the smog ends and the sky begins!
***Side note: If this sounds all too appealing (who are we to judge), check out the job ad for our new Head of Circular Economy.***
Quack. It seems one woman is having difficulty getting her ducks in a row. With EU countries defying von der Leyen’s request for a gender-balanced EU Commission and the EU Parliament’s complex calendars, it seems the EC won’t resume activity until December. In the run-up to the customary grilling of the proposed new EU Commissioners, an alliance of five environmental NGOs, including the EEB, have been drafting some crucial questions to help establish which nominees are fit for defending the future. More to come!
While some of us are still searching for our laptop bags, one HUGE milestone has already been achieved!
A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR FOOD AND FARMING🍽️🚜
This week, after seven months of intense debate, farmers and NGOs reached a historic consensus calling for a fair and sustainable transition for EU food and farming. The agreement, reached by 29 diverse stakeholders, saw the light of day on Wednesday morning, yielding a broad consensus that “business as usual is not an option”.
Consensus is key! The EEB was privileged to represent civil society across Europe with a seat at the table at the so-called Strategic Dialogue. Announced in September 2023, the Strategic Dialogue started just as a wave of farmer protests spread across Europe, and scientists issued yet another warning of the need for urgent action to address the climate crisis. Not only is Europe’s agri-food system under increasing pressure from the triple climate, biodiversity and pollution crisis, but it is also the leading cause of nature destruction in Europe, is associated with human rights abuses, and is driving widespread and serious diet-related diseases. For all these reasons, broad consensus was needed to help set Europe on a path towards a fair and sustainable food and farming system.
***While the final report doesn’t reflect the ambition of the EEB’s policy recommendations, it is a large step forward.***
Money for farmers that need it. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), founded in 1962, is the oldest EU policy still in operation. This archaic policy has many flaws that, for decades, have entrenched and widened inequalities and contradicted its purpose by driving the destruction of the very ecosystems on which our future food security relies. This may finally change with this collective call from all stakeholders for “substantially increasing funding” for nature and climate-friendly farming and “targeting income support only at the active farmers who need it most,” whilst moving “away from area-based payments.” If the EU Commission takes these concrete recommendations on board, it will end decades of wasteful, unfair subsidies that have benefitted the largest farms at the expense of smaller-scale farmers, consumers, and the environment.
Dietary shifts. While the Sustainable Food Systems Law remains in EU legislative limbo, this agreement illustrates a recognition from stakeholders that both production and consumption must be tackled together if Europe wants to ensure it operates within planetary boundaries. It is, therefore, reassuring to see that stakeholders agree on the need to support “trends towards rebalancing diets towards more plant-based proteins.” An essential component.
Animal welfare. In 2021, following a successful European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) –where more than 1.4 million verified EU citizens signed up to End the Cage Age – the EU Commission announced its historic commitment to revising the current EU animal welfare legislation. Three years on, we’re still waiting, which has even led to the Citizens’ Committee launching legal action against the EU Commission for not complying with ECI obligations – put otherwise, trampling on the democratic process.
Come on! We can only hope that the collective call in this agreement for the EU Commission to bring forward the promised ban on cages in animal farming as part of a wider revision of animal welfare legislation will help apply pressure and finally deliver on the promises it made to citizens. See the EEB’s full position on animal welfare.
Last but not least: There are plenty of other compromises in the Strategic Dialogue to commend, including a call to end the export of pesticides banned in the EU, recognition that it is “necessary for the future success of food systems that full gender equality is achieved,” and of the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, as well as a call for a new Just Transition Fund for the agri-food sector.
Tick-tock! There is no time to waste. The EU Commission president has promised to incorporate the concrete recommendations into her Vision for Agriculture and Food within the first 100 days of her new term. It’s safe to say the EEB will not let her forget this!
IN OTHER POST-SUMMER NEWS ☀️📰
No holiday for wolves: This summer, the EEB and its partners were at the forefront of the fight to protect wolves. We assisted Avaaz in launching a petition calling Member States to reject the EU Commission’s dangerous proposal to weaken wolf protection under the Bern Convention. The battle is heating up, especially in the Netherlands, where a new right-wing government is pushing to legalise the hunting of wolves. Worryingly, in Switzerland, hunters have already begun slaughtering entire wolf packs. Support the call to protect these vital creatures before it’s too late.
Who’s footing the bill for nuclear’s last hurrah? Spoiler: it’s EU taxpayers. Belgium’s decision to extend two ageing nuclear plants with massive state aid is now under EU investigation. The deal undercuts renewables profitability when prices turn negative and distort European electricity markets. This is clearly not in the public interest. So, the question remains: why are we paying to keep nuclear power alive when safer, cheaper, and cleaner alternatives are already available? Dive deeper into the debate, or check out our position.
All aboard for circular economy. Make sure to join the 2nd Edition of the Ship Recycling Lab in Lisbon on October 9-10, 2024! Hosted by our partner NGO Shipbreaking Platform, this event brings together key players from the maritime, recycling, and steel industries to explore cutting-edge solutions in ship demolition, waste management, and clean steel production. If you are in Lisbon, the Lab is a great chance to engage with the people driving ethical, circular policy goals in ship recycling. Sign up here!
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WORK WITH US: The work continues, and we often seek new colleagues to join our team. Could you be one of them? Check out our current vacancies on our website. We are currently looking for our new Head of Circular Economy to lead our influential and great CE team!
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