The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Reintroduction compensation
The European Commission says it will allow member states to pay full compensation to farmers who suffer damage or losses as a result of the reintroduction of protected animals.
Citing wolves, it says it will cover losses and pay for additional protection, such as electric fences or guard dogs. Payments will be exempt from state aid rules, and national governments will be able to pay 100%, rather than the current 80% limit.
The Commission says the success of programmes to reintroduce or encourage large carnivores depends on the “effective management” of conflicts with farmers.
After it leaves the EU, the UK will have to decide a stance on genetically modified food and agricultural crops.
The stakes in that debate have been given a new twist, with the United States ratcheting up pressure in the World Trade Organisation for a more positive approach towards biotechnology.
This could see import bans being treated as a non-scientific barrier to trade, if the US can secure the support it wants. It is leading a group of 12 countries that have backed a document saying that biotechnology is an “essential tool” for agricultural innovation.
They also claim it offers benefits for the environment and consumers, and say countries opposing it with “arbitrary and unnecessary decisions” are a roadblock to progress.
The US case is supported by countries including Australia, Brazil, Uruguay, Canada and Argentina.
Germany has joined France in adding to the pressure on glyphosate and other agrochemicals.
While the glyphosate licence in the EU will remain in place until the end of 2022, France is committed to a strategy to phase it out, and Germany now also wants an end date set. Its environment minister says that, in the meantime, it will impose tougher restrictions.
These include plans for use to be conditional on farmers setting aside 10% of their land for biodiversity. It is not clear whether this can be enforced when glyphosate has a full EU licence, but it will also be applied to other agrochemicals.
The European Court of Auditors, the EU’s financial watchdog, has criticised the Commission’s CAP reform proposals.
The auditors say there is no evidence that they will deliver the environmental and climate change gains claimed.
According to the Commission, 40% of the post-2020 budget will go towards delivering these goals, but the auditors say this is unrealistic.
They argue the figure for the present CAP is 19%, which they also believe is an exaggeration. They say there is no evidence of change on the scale that would be needed to meet the 40% claim.