Brussels wants to exclude from agricultural aid those who exploit seasonal workers

Brussels wants to exclude from agricultural aid those who exploit seasonal workers

Brussels, Feb 27 (EFE) .- In full negotiation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that will govern the field from 2023 to 2027, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, explains in an interview with Boss that he is in favor of excluding  aid to farms that do not respect the labor rights of seasonal workers.

The proposal is one of the most delicate points in the CAP negotiations, which Portugal, presidency of the Council of the EU, wants to close by the end of June

 "Negotiations are progressing well," says the commissioner, who is confident of a reform pact in the coming months between the Council (EU countries) and the European Parliament.

According to Wojciechowski, there are "some controversial issues", including the idea of ​​social conditionality, that is, that the receipt of aid from the CAP is subject to respect for labor rights.

 "I, as a representative of the European Commission, have declared our support for the idea," he explains.

 There has been "a lot of reports of abuse across the EU, in many Member States", so it is "very important to be able to exclude those beneficiaries of CAP funds who do not respect social rights", he adds.

I am in favor of this solution.  Now the question is how to do or achieve it, where should it be included, "he says.

 Another politically sensitive issue is the percentage of direct payments that will go to the "eco-schemes", an instrument to encourage sustainable agricultural and livestock practices.

 While the Council asks that it be 20%, Parliament is in favor of 30%.

The differences between the institutions on this and other pending issues "are not very great", so "compromise is possible."

 SPANISH STRATEGIC PLAN

 The Commissioner recalls that Brussels has sent recommendations to all countries with a view to preparing their strategic plans to implement the CAP

Spain should work especially on an indicator that "is not positive": the use of antibiotics in livestock, especially in intensive production, says the European owner.

 It also has to move towards convergence in the basic payment to farmers.

 "Spain must improve the effectiveness of the distribution of direct aid and advance in the process of internal convergence and distribution of aid, eliminating the link with historical references", says the commissioner.

 In this context, he values ​​the decision of the national authorities to advance in this area during the transitional period, without waiting for the entry into force of the future CAP.

 There are other areas in which the country is in a good situation, such as greenhouse emissions from livestock, "which are at less than 2 tonnes per hectare, one of the lowest in the EU," says the commissioner.

 The use of pesticides and fertilizers in Spain is not "high" either, he indicates.

 FROM FARM TO TABLE

 Despite the distrust of some producers towards the objectives of the European strategy "From Farm to Table" (which includes that by 2030 25% of the agricultural area of ​​the EU is organic, that the use of fertilizers is reduced  "at least 20%" and that of phytosanitary products in 50%) the commissioner defends that "it is an opportunity for farmers, especially for small and medium-sized ones."

 He points out that the EU lost between 2005 and 2015 almost 4 million farms, going from 14 to 10 million.

"We need to stop this process and protect farmers and ranchers, give medium and small the possibility of participating in the competition not through the quantity but the quality of the food," he says.

 It also wants to reduce the impact of the transport of agri-food products, since each year more than 3 billion foods move from one point to another in Europe and the average distance traveled exceeds 170 kilometers.

 This is to be corrected "by supporting short distribution chains and local productions", although "it is not suitable for everyone (...) in Spain, some sectors, such as fruit, need to transport their products for consumers throughout Europe  ", Add.

 MERCOSUR

 The commissioner understands the concern generated in the sector by the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) signed in 2019 and still pending ratification.

 "If it is ratified (...) the situation will have to be monitored, because there are sensitive sectors, such as beef production, poultry meat or sugar, which could suffer negative consequences," he points out.

 In that case, Brussels would study "the necessary support tools".

 US TARIFFS

 Spanish producers are "perhaps the most affected" by US tariffs, which tax imports of European products such as olive oil, table olives or wine, says the European head.

 "The Commission is talking to the new Biden administration. We will focus on de-escalating tensions and eliminating all fees. A moratorium could be a possibility if both parties agree," he adds.

 We will have to wait for the confirmation of the new US trade representatives to know their position, says the commissioner, who underlines that the "political climate is better" and that he hopes "a solution".

 A particular case is that of the wine sector, which not only suffers from the problem of tariffs, but also the impact of the Covid pandemic.

 "We are using every possible tool to improve their situation," says Wojciechowski.

 BREXIT

 The commissioner explains that after the agreement with the United Kingdom, this country has become "the largest market" for European exporters of agri-food products.

 "There are some problems linked to border controls, but overall there are no signs that our exports will be significantly reduced. We think we will maintain our position in this market," says Wojciechowski.

 Marta Borras

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 Economy