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Non-objection to a delegated act: rules on the ratio for GAEC Standard 1

TA-9-2024-0290 · P9_TA(2024)0290 · PE759.936

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Parliament decides to raise no objections to the Commission delegated regulation of 12 March 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126 on the ratio for the good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) standard 1. The delegated regulation responds to experience since 1 January 2023 showing that GAEC 1 rules need amending to avoid a disproportionate burden on farmers where structural changes such as a shift from livestock to arable farming affect their ability to establish permanent grassland. It addresses situations where decreases in the annual ratio are due to fluctuations in declared areas, areas registered but not declared, or increases in total agricultural area, rather than conversion of permanent grassland to other uses. It allows a degree of flexibility while ensuring compliance with GAEC 1's objective of safeguarding against conversion to other agricultural uses and with the maximum decrease of the ratio set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.

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 standard 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 in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.
  3. Experience shows the rules need amending to avoid a disproportionate burden on farmers where structural changes such as a shift from livestock to arable farming and reduced livestock production affect their ability to establish permanent grassland while remaining viable.
  4. In some situations member states may have to require beneficiaries to reconvert areas into permanent grassland or establish new permanent grassland even though decreases in the annual ratio are due to 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 due to additional declarations by farmers.
  6. Where a decrease of the annual ratio beyond the 5 % threshold in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 does not result from conversion of permanent grassland into other agricultural uses, imposing obligations to establish additional permanent grassland could be disproportionate.
  7. It is appropriate to allow a certain degree of flexibility while ensuring compliance with GAEC 1's main objective of a general safeguard against conversion to other agricultural uses to preserve carbon stock and with the maximum decrease of the ratio in Annex III.
  8. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126, which lays down rules on the ratio for GAEC 1, should therefore be amended.

Who is affected

  • Farmers in member states, who may face obligations to reconvert or establish permanent grassland under GAEC 1.
  • Member states implementing CAP Strategic Plans, which may impose such 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 been implementing their CAP Strategic Plans including GAEC 1.

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