During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the severe impact of the recent spring frost on fruit and wine growers. Open questions to the Commission. Opening statements by Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author and by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

CAP reform (T)

LINS, Norbert (EPP, DE)

WOJCIECHOWSKI, Janusz (ECR, PL, EC)

The severe impact of the recent spring frost on fruit and wine growers: opening statements by Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author and by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture

SOUNDBITE (English), Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture, President, commissioner, colleagues. Agriculture has been hardest hit by climate change, whether it's frost or other extreme weather events, this has a big impact on European farmers. This is particularly tough for our fruit and wine producers. This has been the harshest frost since 1991 in spring. It has led to historic losses, in some cases reaching up to 100 percent.

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author, This is an economic disaster for the producers who are still suffering from the Covid 19 crisis. The frequency of these natural disasters is increasing every year. I think it is the responsibility of the EU to adapt its risk management tools in order to provide support to farmers. The European Parliament has raised this issue in the context of the ongoing CACP negotiations, the Common Agricultural Policy reform, we are calling for improvements.

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author, We want to help farmers more in the future, but our farmers need support now. We are working hard to wrap up this EEP negotiations next week, but that is too late for the current losses. So I would call on the commission to look at what resources they have to help our farmers. We also need to think of the future. And so the agri committee has three questions to you, Commissioner.

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author, Is the Commission planning to improve the existing risk management tools? We would like to see more flexibility when it comes to using innovative tools in the strategic plans. Do you see this as a possibility? Secondly, what measures is the Commission intend to propose to help the affected farmers deal with these losses caused by frost?

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author, And thirdly, what actions is the commission planning in terms of research in the area of adaptation of crops to climate change commissioner colleagues? Agriculture is part of the solution when it comes to climate change and the environment, not part of the problem. We have to help in terms of adaptations. This is a sector that can help stock CO2 and make a real contribution to climate change.

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Author, This is part of the reason why it's so important that we help farmers who are in this very serious situation that we should not leave them alone. We should provide them with support. And I hope I can count on your support. Commissioner, thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you very much, Mr. Rollinsford, for your questions and thank you for commentary for that you put into an agenda. This is a very important topic. Honourable members of the European Parliament, the risk management requires three essential elements of risk prevention and adaptation to new conditions, in particular environmental and climate ones, the right risk management tools to deal with it and the adequate budget to finance it.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Currently, the Common Agricultural Policy offers of various options to help farmers adapt to new production conditions and manage their business risk, mainly through sectoral market programmes financed by guarantee fund or rural development programmes financed by the Rural Development Fund.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Risk prevention and adaptation to new conditions is important and can be improved. Sectoral fruit and vegetable and wine programmes can play a key role to help growers to adjust to climate climatic events. Rural development programmes allow member states to offer public support, aiming at helping farmers increase the resilience of their businesses at holding level the Common Agricultural Policy.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, It already supports compensation schemes to cover production losses calls, for instance, by advance adverse climatic events such as frost. Farmers may receive public support to address the risk from climate related events from risk management instruments such as insurance, mutual funds or income stabilisation stabilisation tools.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Furthermore, support for the restoration of production potential damage to by natural disasters is possible. I want to point out to you that the CAP tools are available. However, in order to implement them and to make them available for farmers, member states and sectoral producers, organisations have to activate them in their programmes. About the risk management in the future CAP we have to do more.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, The Commission recognises the increased exposure of the sector to climate related risks. The proposal for the post 2020 Common Agricultural Policy that we are currently debating in the trial of negotiations delivers on the needs of risk management and the use of innovative tools to be included in the preparation of the CAP strategy plans.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, The CAP can provide support to help farmers manage their production and income risks from unexpected weather events outside their control. Specifically, insurance and mutual funds, including income stabilisation tool, should remain possible. But the support will also be possible for other, more innovative risk management tools.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Member states will be required to conduct a needs assessment and approach the objective strategically, including the planning and implementation of relevant support schemes. Such strategy needs to include support to withstand unexpected shocks. The scope of the risk management tools under the authority has been widened to accommodate for the above mentioned needs.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Concerning the budget, you are aware that we discussed the agricultural reserve during the trialogue on the horizontal regulation on 21st of April. At the time, the Council presidency stressed that the Council general approach reflects the July 2020 European Council decisions. As you remember, the OICO said a fixed amount of 450 million euro per year as a crisis reserve. I understand that for the European Parliament, it is crucial to have a more flexible reserve.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, I'm sure this point will be on the agenda at the super trialogue next week. In relation to the second question, does the Commission intend to propose any measures to help the farmers concerned overcome the losses caused by the frost? As this stage, the Commission is not intending to activate sectoral support measures connected to the frost damages caused this year in the wine and fruit and vegetable sectors.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, However, close monitoring of the situation in the sector so will continue keeping the option open to act where needed. The immediate issue is the potential impact on harvest later this year. Crop losses due to the frost comes at a time where wine producers have already been hit hard by covid-19 along the balance and the bar and restaurant closures, as well as the cancellation of wine fairs and loss of revenue for all tourism.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Therefore, the monitoring and assessment of the situation in the wine and food sectors should also consider the extensive and extraordinary support that is being provided to the agricultural sector as a response to that covid pandemic. This includes the expanded state aid option options and other dedicated support schemes such as under the FRB, exceptional temporary support to farmers and SMEs, particularly affected by their covid-19 crisis.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, For the sectoral market programmes, the Commission could consider whether feasible adjustments in existing fruit and vegetable and wine programmes in order to make risk management more attractive while not leading to additional expenditure.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, The normal programming for the Rural Development Programmes, the legal proposal for the post 2020 Common Agricultural Policy, currently debated in the trialogue negotiations, delivers on the needs of risk management and the use of innovative tools to be included in the preparation of this EEP strategic plans.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Farmers are increasingly facing the consequences of the climate and biodiversity crisis. Is therefore crucial that the new CAP helps our farmers become more resilient. And the last question, what action the Commission is planning to take in the field of research to improve the adaptation of crops to climate change? Research and innovation have a key role to play to help permanent crops to adjust to climate change, including a late frost.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Research and innovation can contribute by developing adopted breeds that can better deal with their late frost. Both the framework programme for their research and Innovation and their CAP EAP Agri have contributed solutions to this important issue. This is now on one side fits all solution to this issue, but a larger number of approaches can feed specific crops and locations in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, Several EU research and innovation projects have contributed to solve this issue. For instance, Innowine Research and innovation project aimed at developing knowledge tools and the genetic resources necessary to better adopt viticultural to climate change. The Project developed the technical innovation to control spring frost with low water consumption.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI,  European Commissioner for Agriculture, There will be a topic in Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022, which will deal with the development of adaptation strategies that can potentially bring additional solution. On the side of the EAP agri, under the CAP, a focus group has dealt specifically with this issue a very comprehensive manner in the food sector in 2019 and reviewed the various possible approaches to deal with a number of bottom-up projects. The so-called EEP agri operational group are focussed on this issue. Thank you very much, Mr President.