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RECOMMENDATION FOR A DECISION (C(2024)01488 – 2024/2663(DEA))

To raise no objections to the Commission delegated regulation of 12 March 2024 amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the rules on the ratio for the good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) standard 1

B-9-2024-0199

on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Norbert Lins

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Parliament's draft decision raises no objections to the Commission delegated regulation of 12 March 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126 on the ratio for good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) standard 1. The accompanying recitals say the GAEC 1 rules need amending to avoid a disproportionate burden on farmers where structural changes to farming systems affect their ability to establish permanent grassland. They find it could be disproportionate to require farmers to establish additional permanent grassland where a fall in the annual ratio does not result from conversion of permanent grassland to other agricultural uses. They call for flexibility while keeping GAEC 1's safeguard against conversion to other agricultural uses and the maximum decrease of the ratio.

Key points

  1. Parliament declares it has no objections to the Commission delegated regulation of 12 March 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126 on the ratio for GAEC 1.
  2. Since 1 January 2023 member states have implemented CAP Strategic Plans including the obligation to maintain a ratio of permanent grassland to agricultural area under GAEC 1.
  3. Experience shows the GAEC 1 rules need amending to avoid a disproportionate burden on farmers where market reorientation causes structural changes such as a shift from livestock to arable farming.
  4. Member states may have to require beneficiaries to reconvert areas into permanent grassland or establish new permanent grassland even where annual ratio decreases come from fluctuations in declared areas.
  5. Permanent grassland areas may be registered in the Land Parcel Identification System but not declared for direct payments in a given year, or the total agricultural area may increase through additional declarations.
  6. Where a decrease of the annual ratio beyond the 5 % threshold does not result from conversion of permanent grassland into other agricultural uses, imposing obligations to establish additional permanent grassland could be disproportionate.
  7. Flexibility is appropriate while ensuring compliance with GAEC 1's objective of safeguarding against conversion to other agricultural uses to preserve carbon stock and with the maximum decrease of the ratio.
  8. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126, which lays down rules on the ratio for GAEC 1, should therefore be amended.

Who is affected

  • Farmers, who would face obligations to establish permanent grassland that the recitals call disproportionate in certain situations.
  • Member states, which implement CAP Strategic Plans and may have to impose obligations on beneficiaries.

Figures and deadlines

  • 5 % threshold set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 for the decrease of the annual ratio.
  • 1 January 2023, since when member states have implemented their CAP Strategic Plans including GAEC 1.

Legal basis: Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.