Citizens are protesting against a revision of certain provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adopted at the end of the 2019-2024 legislative term. Many people have written to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since April 2024. These citizens are concerned that the revision, voted on during the 24 April 2024 plenary session, would be detrimental to environmental protection. They also criticise the speed with which the reform is being adopted.
We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President (in French). The main elements of our reply were:
English
European Commission proposal
In response to farmers’ protests, the European Commission submitted a legislative proposal to simplify a number of environmental requirements with which farmers must comply in order to qualify for EU funding.
Among other things, the proposal abolishes the obligation for farmers to leave fallow at least 4 % of arable land. In return, farmers can receive financial support if they keep a proportion of their arable land fallow or introduce other measures (such as planting hedges or trees). In some EU countries, farmers would be given a choice between crop diversification and crop rotation, the latter being more restrictive. Finally, to avoid a disproportionate administrative burden, small farms of less than 10 hectares would be exempt from controls and penalties linked to environmental requirements.
More information on the Commission’s proposal is available in this press release.
Vote in the European Parliament
On 24 April 2024, following a request to hold a debate as an urgent procedure, Parliament adopted the Commission’s proposal with technical amendments proposed by the Council. The text was adopted with 425 votes in favour, 130 against and 33 abstentions. To see how each Member of the European Parliament voted, you can consult the voting results (point 30.24).
More information is available in this press release.
In accordance with Article 2 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, Members exercise their mandate freely and independently. The President of the European Parliament cannot influence their votes, and the President does not vote on texts adopted by Parliament.
French
Proposition de la Commission européenne
En réponse aux protestations des agriculteurs, la Commission européenne a soumis une proposition législative visant à assouplir plusieurs exigences environnementales auxquelles les agriculteurs doivent se conformer pour pouvoir bénéficier des financements européens.
La proposition supprime entre autre l’obligation pour les agriculteurs de laisser au moins 4 % des terres arables en jachère. Au lieu de cela, les agriculteurs peuvent recevoir un soutien financier s’ils conservent une part de leurs terres arables en jachère ou s’ils introduisent d’autres mesures (telles que planter des haies ou des arbres). En outre, si leur pays offre cette possibilité, les agriculteurs pourraient choisir entre la diversification des cultures et la rotation des cultures, qui est plus contraignante. Enfin, pour éviter une charge administrative disproportionnée, les petites exploitations de moins de 10 hectares seront exemptées de contrôles et de sanctions liés aux exigences environnementales.
Plus d’informations sur la proposition de la Commission sont disponibles dans ce communiqué de presse.
Vote au Parlement européen
Le 24 avril 2024, à l’issue d’une procédure dite d’urgence, le Parlement a adopté la proposition de la Commission avec des modifications techniques proposées par le Conseil. Le texte a été adopté avec 425 votes en faveur, 130 contre et 33 abstentions. Pour voir comment chaque député a voté, vous pouvez consulter les résultats des votes (point 30.24).
Plus d’informations sont disponibles dans ce communiqué de presse.
Conformément à l’article 2 du règlement intérieur du Parlement, les députés européens exercent leur mandat de façon libre et indépendante. La Présidente du Parlement européen ne peut pas influencer le vote des députés européens, et elle ne vote pas sur les textes adoptés par le Parlement.
Background
Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.
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