ELO Community - October updates and hot topics
European Landowners' Organization
Committed to promoting a sustainable countryside and to increasing environmental and agricultural awareness.
POLICY
Hearings for commissioner candidates are scheduled? ?
The candidates will face confirmation hearings before the European Parliament's committees from 4 to 12 November , in advance of Parliament's vote on the College of Commissioners as a whole. No candidate has been found to have a conflict of interest and will now appear before the parliamentary committee or committees responsible for their portfolio area, even if the new college structure is more complex, with many portfolios overlapping. For instance, Hansen ?(AGRI) will be questioned on the first day, Roswall ?(ENVI) on the second, and Hoekstra ?(CLIMA) on the third.?
Hopes that EUDR delay will be approved in November ?
ELO welcomed the Commission’s proposal to extend the implementation period of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), since it is crucial to ensure that it is implemented under the right conditions, including adequate phase-in time, to be both effective and feasible. According to the commission, “it will take one year, no more to adopt the technical criteria for implementation, and that reopening the regulation was an exceptional step due to the complex nature of the legislation". ?Now we call on the co-legislators to make a swift decision to help reduce the legal uncertainty faced by operators. Following the positive Council position , the Parliament is likely to go for “urgency procedure” and approve the amendment to delay as soon as possible, even if there are still voices asking for it to be rejected .?
EU Parliament divided over NGTs ?
A discussion in the European Parliament's ENVI Committee on plants produced via New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) highlighted divisions between political factions. Right-wing members advocated for rapid adoption without strict controls, while left-wing and green members expressed caution. EFSA presented its scientific opinion, stating that NGTs pose no additional risks compared to conventional breeding. The debate also touched on the potential of NGTs to address climate change and food security, with disagreement over risk assessments, labelling, and traceability. The debate was broadcasted and is available here .?
Renewed push for mirror clauses
The topic of mirror clauses is making a comeback! In its latest draft opinion, the Committee of the Regions stressed its concerns about the negative impacts of trade agreements and insufficient monitoring of goods from third countries. The document highlights the need for a strong trade policy that opens new markets for EU products but also protects the agricultural sector from unfair competition. Additionally, the European Parliament has recently filed a written question to the Commission regarding its intention to review trade agreements with third countries so as to introduce mirror clauses.
AWARDS
SAVE THE DATE: Bee Award Ceremony 2024
Join us on December 10th in Brussels for the European Bee Award Ceremony! Launched by ELO and CEMA in 2014, this award honors innovative, effective, and scalable projects that protect Europe’s vital pollinators. Three prizes will be awarded:?
The ceremony offers valuable networking opportunities with key figures in sustainability, agriculture, and innovation. Stay tuned, more details will follow soon!
UPCOMING EVENTS
PROPAGRI Final Conference
November 28th - Brussels, Belgium?
Join us at the final conference of the PROPAGRI Erasmus+ project “Enhancing Agricultural Workforce through NEET Engagement and Training”. The event will take place in Brussels on November 28th and will give you the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions with representatives from youth organisations, NGO’s, the local government and the project consortium.
INTERCEDE Transdisciplinary Forum 13-14 Nov 2024, Brussels:? Landowners Requested:
October 13th to 14th - Brussels
INTERCEDE Transdisciplinary Forum, an exciting in-person event hosted by the Horizon Europe project INTERCEDE - InceNtivising fuTurE foRest eCosystem sErvices anD incomes in Europe , investigating the potential of market-based incentives for forest owners, managers and users. The theme of this inaugural forum is ‘Cross-learning & Exchange’, marking the launch of the first of three Transdisciplinary Forums. Each forum will build on the previous one to ensure continuous engagement with external stakeholders and the project consortium, fostering progress and impact. The INTERCEDE project is investigating the potential of Market-Based Instruments, and we would like to discuss the demand and experiences with these with a broad range of stakeholders. Therefore, the event aims to bridge the gap between academia and practice through participatory research and transdisciplinary collaborations. The Projects Focus Areas
Financial support is available if required but subject to EU regulations and confirmation. Contact Martin Fox?for more information!?
PAST EVENTS
Full house for forestry events?
On the 26th September, members were invited to a full day of forest discussions starting with a private morning event to focus on the deforestation regulation and on the biodiversity strategy (nature restoration and forest protection objectives). This was followed by a public event on “Multifunctional EU forests and their role in supporting EU strategic objectives”, with a keynote and featuring remarks and dialogue between key policy makers (Sefcovic cabinet, DG AGRI, DG ENVI, EU Parliament, ministries) and stakeholders.
领英推荐
Nature Directors’ met in Hungary
ELO attended the Nature Directors Meeting from 30th September to 2nd October, hosted by the Hungarian EU Presidency. The core topic of the meeting was the Nature Restoration Regulation. Discussions focused on two main themes: national planning and financing, as well as cooperation across sectors and stakeholder involvement. One key uptake was the need to find immediate solutions for filling the financing gap related to preparing national restoration plans and the need for adequate funding.?
PROJECTS
PROPAGRI Newsletter is out now!
Catch up with the project to prepare for the final conference! The newsletter is now available in English , but it will soon be also in the other official languages of the project: French, Italian, German and Serbian.? Contact: Marta Candidi
1st SoilValues Discussion Paper: "Designing Effective Incentives for Transitioning to Soil Health and Regenerative Agricultural Practices"
On designing effective incentives for the transition to soil-health, regenerative agricultural practices. Within the Horizon Europe-funded SoilValues project , KOIS has mapped public and private incentives available in Europe and in the six SoilValues pilot countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal) and analysed how farmers can be better incentivised to improve soil quality and use viable business models for soil health. This infographic is a summarised version of the main recommendations of the discussion Paper.?
FORUMFORAG
ForumforAg- “ What number say - Markets outlooks” ?
On November 19 we will have a in person workshop focusing on "What numbers say- Markets outlook".? The first panel will be the setting of the scene, with Tassos Haniotis (ForumforAg Adviser on Sustainable Productivity), John Baffes (World Bank) and Petr Havlik (IIASA) focusing on respectively on "The blissful linearity of market outlook and the nonlinear nature of their uncertain prospects", “Food inflation: Is this time different?” and "Can we have the fuel and eat it? Land use pressures and sustainability questions”? The second panel will focus on the challenges stemming from the previous presentations and their policy relevance.
"Forum for the Future of Agriculture: Regional Event Poland ?
Throughout the year, the Forum for the Future of Agriculture organises regional conferences and online events to discuss agriculture and the environment at a national level across Europe. On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 we will co-organise our regional event with "Polska Federacja Rolna" at the Centrum Prasowe Foksal. We will focus, among others, on the reform of the CAP with the soon to be announced vision for agriculture to be presented by the new College, and of climate change and food security as one of the priorities of the forthcoming Polish presidency; as well as on importance of soil and the place of innovation to deliver these targets. The meeting will take place in person, and will be translated in English and Polish. Contact: Emmanuelle Mikosz
COMING UP SOON
OCTOBER
21-23/10/24: carbon expert group ?
25/10/24: EPG meeting (10:00 - 13:00)
NOVEMBER
12-13/11: European Mission Soil Week
12-13/11: Networking event - “Strictly protected areas in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030”,? Committee of the Regions
13-14/11/24:?INTERCEDE (project on Market-Based Instrument for Payment of Ecosystem Services) Transdisciplinary Forum ??
18/11/24: EJP Soil: healthy soils for Europe?
19/11/24:?ForumforAg:?What do numbers say – Markets Outlook workshop
26/11:?ELO General Assembly in Warsaw, Poland
27/11:??ForumforAg: 2024 Regional Event Poland
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DECEMBER
10/12/24: European Bee award in Brussels
10/12/24:?Biodiversity conference?on the topic of water in Brussels
12/12/24:?Sustainable Solar Europe 2024