EU Faces Challenges with Agricultural and Environmental Policies

The European Union is grappling with significant challenges in its agricultural and environmental policies. The EU has allocated 46.5 million euros from its agricultural reserve to compensate fruit and wine growers in Germany for frost damage, with additional aid earmarked for farms in Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, and Estonia.

This financial support aims to mitigate the severe impact of climate-related events on agriculture. Concurrently, German agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has called for a six-month delay in implementing the regulation on deforestation-free supply chains for products like coffee, cocoa, soy, and palm oil.

This regulation aims to reduce deforestation in the Amazon region, but Özdemir argues that the current bureaucratic requirements are too cumbersome and need revision for smoother execution. The European Court of Auditors has also criticized the EU's funding policy for organic farming.

Despite substantial financial support, the EU is unlikely to meet its goal of 25% organic farming by 2030. The auditors highlighted that many farmers receive subsidies without adhering to organic standards, which undermines the sector's growth and sustainability.

The EU's current organic farming area stands at 10.5%, with Germany slightly below this average and Austria leading with over 25%. The audit calls for clearer, measurable goals and a more effective allocation of funds to ensure the long-term viability of organic farming.

In response, the European Commission remains optimistic, emphasizing recent developments in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and encouraging member states to bolster their support for organic production.