33 Amendments of Brian SIMPSON related to 2011/0282(COD)
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To ensure the sustainable development of rural areas, it is necessary to focus on a limited number of core priorities relating to knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas, the competitiveness of all types of agriculture and farm viability, and food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture, restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependant on agriculture and forestry, resource efficiency and the shift towards a low carbon economy in the agricultural, food and forestry sectors, and promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and the economic development of rural areas. In doing so account must be taken of the diversity of situations that affect rural areas with different characteristics or different categories of potential beneficiaries and the cross-cutting objectives of innovation, environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation action should relate to both limiting emissions in agriculture and forestry from key activities such as livestock production, fertilizer use and to preserving the carbon sinks and enhancing carbon sequestration with regard to land use, land use change and the forestry sector. The Union priority for rural development relating to knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas should apply horizontally in relation to the other Union priorities for rural development.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The evolution and specialisation of agriculture and forestry and the particular challenges faced by micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter ‘SMEs’) in rural areas require an appropriate level of technical and economic training as well as an increased capacity to access and exchange knowledge and information including in the form of diffusion of best agricultural and forestry production practices. Knowledge transfer and information actions should take not only the form of traditional training courses but be adapted to the needs of rural actors. Workshops, coaching, demonstration activities, information actions but also short-term farm exchange or visit schemes should therefore also be supported. Knowledge and information acquired should enable farmers, forest holders, persons engaged in the food sector, NGOs, and rural SMEs to enhance in particular their competitiveness and resource efficiency and improve their environmental performance while at the same time contributing to the sustainability of the rural economy. In order to ensure that knowledge transfer and information actions are effective in delivering these results it should be required that the providers of knowledge transfer services have all the appropriate capabilities.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Agri-environment-climate payments should continue to play a prominent role in supporting the sustainable development of rural areas and in responding to society's increasing demands for environmental services. They should include measures encouraging positive management of obligations established under Article 32, Chapter 2 of Title III of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012 to further stimulate their environmental delivery. They should further encourage farmers and other land managers to serve society as a whole by introducing or continuing to apply agricultural practices contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, the landscape and its features, natural resources, the soil and genetic diversity. In this context the conservation of genetic resources in agriculture and the additional needs of farming systems that are of high nature value should be given specific attention. Payments should contribute to covering additional costs and income foregone resulting from the commitments undertaken and should only cover commitments going beyond relevant mandatory standards and requirements, in accordance with the ‘polluter pays’ principle. In many situations the synergies resulting from commitments undertaken jointly by a group of farmers multiply the environmental and climate benefit. However, joint action brings additional transaction costs which should be compensated adequately. In order to ensure that farmers and other land managers are in a position to correctly implement the commitments they have undertaken, Member States should endeavour to provide them with the required skills and knowledge. Member States should maintain the level of efforts made during the 2007-2013 programming period and have to spend a minimum of 250% of the total contribution from the EAFRD to each rural development programme for climate change mitigation and adaptation and land management, through the agri- environment-climate, organic farming and payments to ameasureas facing natural or other specific constraints measuresunder priorities 4 and 5.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) In order to contribute to the achievement of the aims of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability a EIP network should be set up in order to network operational groups, advisory services, NGOs, and researchers involved in the implementation of actions targeting innovation in agriculture. It should be financed as part of technical assistance at Union level.
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) Implementation of innovative projects in the context of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability should be undertaken by operational groups bringing together farmers, researchers, advisors, NGOs, businesses and other actors concerned by innovation in the agricultural sector. In order to ensure that results of such projects profit to the sector as a whole, their results should be disseminated.
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Amendment 376 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – introductory part
(3) promoting food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture, with a focus on the following areas:
Amendment 383 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Amendment 388 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – introductory part
(4) restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry, as well as fostering sound animal husbandry, with a focus on the following areas:
Amendment 392 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
(a) restoring and, preserving and enhancing biodiversity, including in Natura 2000 areas and high nature value farming, and the state of European landscapes;
Amendment 400 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c a (new)
(c a) sound animal husbandry.
Amendment 411 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
(a) increasing efficiency and sustainability in water use by agriculture;
Amendment 486 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) High Nature Value Farming systems
Amendment 553 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The support rates laid down in Annex I may be increased by 10 percentage points for operations supported in the framework of thematic sub-programmes concerning small farms, High Nature Value Farming systems and short supply chains. In the case of young farmers and mountain areas, the maximum support rates may be increased in accordance with Annex I. However, the maximum combined support rate shall not exceed 90%.
Amendment 568 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – paragraph 1 – point iv
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – paragraph 1 – point iv
(iv) a pertinent approach towards innovation, the environment, including the specific needs of Natura 2000 areas, High Nature Value Farming systems, organic farming and climate change mitigation and adaptation is integrated into the programme;
Amendment 713 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Advice to farmers shall be linked to at least one Union priority for rural development and shall cover as a minimum onell of the following elements:
Amendment 719 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) one or more of the statutory management requirements and/or standards for good agricultural and environmental conditions provided for in Chapter I of Title VI of Regulation (EU) No HR/2012;
Amendment 865 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Amendment 1309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Agri-environment-climate payments should include measures encouraging positive management of obligations established under Article 32, Chapter 2 of Title III of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012 to further stimulate their environmental delivery. Such measures should be tailored to the land concerned to achieve maximum environmental benefit.
Amendment 1437 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 33 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In order to be eligible for payments under Article 32, areas, other than mountain areas, shall be considered as facing significant natural constraints if at least 6650% of the UAA meets at least one of the criteria listed in Annex II at the threshold value indicated. Respect of this condition shall be ensured at the appropriLAU2 level or at the level of a clearly delineated level of local administrative units (‘LAU 2’ level).ocal unit which covers a single clear contiguous geographical area with a definable administrative identity
Amendment 1450 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 33 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
When delimiting the areas concerned by this paragraph, Member States shall undertake a fine-tuning exercise, based on objective criteria, with the purpose of excluding areas in which significant natural constraints in accordance with the first subparagraph have been documented but have been overcome by investments or by economic activity and including areas which are deemed to fulfil the characteristics of the areas facing significant natural constraint but otherwise do not satisfy the requirement that 50% of the UAA of the appropriate level of a clearly delineated local unit which covers a single clear contiguous geographical area with a definable economic and administrative identity.
Amendment 1547 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37
Article 37
Amendment 1592 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38
Article 38
Amendment 1604 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 39
Article 39
Amendment 1625 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 40
Article 40
Amendment 1665 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41
Article 41
Amendment 1867 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 61 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) build bridges between cutting-edge research knowledge and technology and farmers, businesses, NGOs and advisory services.
Amendment 1891 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 62 – paragraph 1
Article 62 – paragraph 1
1. EIP operational groups shall form part of the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability. They shall be set up by interested actors such as farmers, researchers, advisors, NGOs and businesses involved in the agriculture and food sector.
Amendment 1911 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 64 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 64 – paragraph 4 – point b
Amendment 1975 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 65 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. A minimum of 50% of the total EAFRD contribution to the rural development programme shall be reserved for climate change mitigation and adaptation and sustainable land management through measures under priorities 4 and 5. The level achieved in this area during the programming period 2007-2013 shall be at the very least maintained.
Amendment 2117 #
Proposal for a regulation
ANNEX III – Thematic sub-programme 4 a (new)
ANNEX III – Thematic sub-programme 4 a (new)
Conservation of High Nature Value farm systems: Knowledge transfer and information actions Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs Agri-environment- climate Organic farming Natura 2000 and Water framework directive payments Enhancement of biodiversity in rural areas Co-operation Investment in physical assets