Agriculture

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Ukraine: agricultural market chaos as preview of EU accession?
Since June 2022, Ukraine has had "candidate country" status. After the end of the war, the country wants to become an EU member as soon as possible. But the chaos surrounding Ukrainian grain on European agricultural markets is dampening hopes of early accession. continue reading →
What’s cooking in Brussels? Farewell of an agricultural expert
He became one of the leading experts on agricultural issues in the European Parliament. Now, Éric Andrieu (S&D), an MEP from the south of France, has decided to "turn over a new leaf". The politician, who represents the Grand Sud-Ouest constituency in France, will no longer run in the European elections. continue reading →
Court of Auditors denounces animal transports
Every year, billions of live animals are transported within the EU and to or from third countries, and the trend is rising. In the process, the applicable animal welfare regulations are not always complied with. This is the result of an analysis published by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) on Monday. The question is […] continue reading →
Digital agriculture for the ecological turnaround
Without the use of new, digital technologies, the EU's sustainability goals in agriculture will be virtually impossible to achieve, say experts. But the changeover is complex, expensive and needs the right political framework – this calls for action in Brussels and Berlin. continue reading →
Fit for 55: Parliament adopts trilogue results
On Tuesday, the EU Parliament approved the trilogue results of three legislative proposals of the Fit for 55 package. The final vote in the Council is now all that is needed for the legislative proposals on:land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF),distribution of emission reduction targets among the individual member states, so-called effort sharingand the […] continue reading →
Ukraine: mine-riddled fields, UN grain agreement expires
Next Saturday, the UN grain agreement between Ukraine, Türkiye and Russia ends. There is no extension in sight yet. At the same time, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reports that her country urgently needs a de-mining initiative to clear mined terrain, including agricultural areas.If Ukraine had to clear the entire mined area using […] continue reading →
What’s cooking in Strasbourg? Swedish mystery
The European Bubble will meet next week in the Alsatian capital for a plenary session. On the agenda are three acronyms from the mammoth Fit for 55 package. And as is so often the case, these technically challenging dossiers conceal major political disputes. Today, they take us to the Swedish forests. continue reading →
Agriculture Council: Ministers call for more influence on environmental legislation
A total of 16 EU agriculture ministers are calling for more involvement in legislative processes again. This emerges from a joint letter that was handed over to the Swedish Presidency at yesterday’s Council meeting. According to the letter, the ministers feel increasingly ignored, especially in negotiations in the areas of environmental and climate protection and […] continue reading →
Nature restoration: rapporteur wants higher targets
With the Nature Restoration Law, the EU wants to set a good example globally. But even after the success of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), the dispute over the design continues in Brussels. In his draft, rapporteur César Luena sets higher goals. The opposition was not long in coming. continue reading →
Commission wants to support fertilizer producers
The European Commission on Wednesday presented a strategy on the availability and affordability of fertilizers. Among other things, domestic fertilizer production is to be given priority in access to natural gas and financial support is to be made possible.This was the authority’s response to the sharp rise in food production costs (Europe.Table reported). These were […] continue reading →
Fertilizer crisis: aid for farmers
The EU Commission asks member states to use the revised crisis framework for state aid to support farmers and fertilizer producers in the current fertilizer crisis. That’s according to a draft communication from the Brussels-based agency, scheduled for Nov. 9 and published Thursday by Contexte. Countries are supposed to use funds from the solidarity contribution […] continue reading →
EU official: 14 million tons of agricultural products transported from Ukraine
With the help of the EU Commission, a total of 14 million tons of agricultural products have been exported from Ukraine so far. Through so-called solidarity lanes and the Black Sea ports, mainly grain and oilseeds have been delivered from Ukraine to the EU since the start of the Russian war of aggression, an EU […] continue reading →
Drought causes crop failures across Europe
This year’s drought in Europe is the worst in at least 500 years, according to a report by the EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Nearly two-thirds of Europe’s land area is still in a critical condition, it said. Forty-seven percent of the land has less precipitation than usual, resulting in deficient soil moisture. According […] continue reading →
Canada to supply green hydrogen
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Economy Minister Robert Habeck plan to sign an agreement on the production of green hydrogen during their upcoming visit to Canada. The country has enormous potential in this area. The agreement aims to initiate the ramp-up in the coming years, according to government sources in Berlin.On Sunday, the chancellor and […] continue reading →
Sanctions against Russia must also cover imports of metals
Europe continues to import metals such as nickel, copper, and aluminum from Russia on a large scale – from companies owned by oligarchs close to Putin. The EU and German government must stop these imports and drastically change raw materials policy, according to Michael Reckordt of the NGO PowerShift. continue reading →
EU states to build up reserves
Plans for a new crisis instrument are taking shape, according to information available to Europe.Table. As stated in an internal document, the EU Commission wants to instruct member states which sensitive products should be stockpiled and according to which criteria they should be allocated to the industry in the event of a crisis. continue reading →
New expert group on carbon extraction
A new expert group on carbon extraction will begin work in December, the commission announced Wednesday. The Climate Directorate-General published a call for applications to fill the 70-member expert panel. The panel will advise the Commission on the implementation of the Sustainable Carbon Cycle Strategy. The commission wants to develop tradable certificates for sustainable CO2 […] continue reading →
Nitrate dispute: EU Commission accepts BMEL proposal
In the dispute between Germany and the EU Commission over the implementation of the Nitrates Directive, which has been going on for years, the parties have come closer to an agreement. The Brussels authority has apparently agreed to a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL) to significantly expand the so-called red areas, according to […] continue reading →