Activities of Benoît BITEAU related to 2019/2028(BUD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020
Amendments (10)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Notes that Union budgetary support for environmentally-damaging forms of agriculture leads to externalised costs, which then have to be borne by other public funds; stresses that this does not constitute an efficient use of the budget; notes that whole-system approaches such as agroecology lead to fewer negative externalities and represent a more efficient use of the budget in this respect;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Underlines that the Union budget must be coherent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Recalls that, in March 2017, ECOFIN called on Member States to spend a higher amount of the Union budget during the remaining current MFF period on climate financing, given the additional commitments entered into at COP 21 in Paris; expresses concern for this failure to increase spending, given both the Union’s Paris Agreement commitments and the European Parliament’s own target for 30 % climate- related expenditure in the next MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2g. Recalls that, according to the European Court of Auditors (ECA), there is a serious risk that the target of at least 20 % climate-related spending in the Union budget for 2014-2020 will not be achieved; regrets that, with the draft general budget for 2020 as currently proposed, despite its allocation of 21 % for climate-related spending, the Union budget for 2014-2020 will only have achieved 19,7% climate-related spending; notes that this represents a EUR 3,5 billion shortfall in climate-related expenditure compared to the target;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WelcomNotes the Commission proposal to allocate EUR 50 million to ‘Other measures for beef and veal’ in order to support the sector in case of market difficulties linked to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union; is concerned that that sector will face additional stress from the Union’s trade agreement with Mercosur; insists that, to ensure coherence with climate objectives, support for livestock sectors should not be without condition, and should prioritise those production methods that benefit the climate, environment and biodiversity, such as extensive, pasture-based livestock production;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights the budgetary inefficiency in supporting sensitive sectors whilst at the same time opening them up to further competition and risk of market instability, in particular through bilateral free trade agreements; notes in addition the long-term erosion of traditional own resources in the Union budget, caused notably by the decrease in customs duties as a result of free trade agreements;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 j (new)
Paragraph 4 j (new)
4j. Notes the adverse weather conditions that European agriculture has faced over recent years, and which are forecast to become more frequent and intense due to climate change; calls for the mobilisation of the agricultural crisis reserve, to support farmers affected by drought this year; stresses, however, that derogations from environmental requirements are likely to prove counterproductive, as they may increase susceptibility to drought;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the increased support for research and innovation dedicated to the supply of safe and high quality food; stresses that it is essential that funds earmarked for research in the agri-food sector, in particular from the Horizon 2020 budget, remain fully available as such in order to stimulate innovation and smart solutions in the agricultural and rural development sectors., in particular through agroecological research, with a whole agroecosystem approach, in the agricultural and rural development sectors; underlines the importance of practical applicability of results at farm level and the role of agricultural extension services; highlights that research policy should maintain coherence with environmental, climate, biodiversity, health and welfare policy objectives, and incentivise and support initiatives tailored to the needs of smallholdings without economies of scale, so that they may benefit from new technologies;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 h (new)
Paragraph 6 h (new)
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 i (new)
Paragraph 6 i (new)
6i. Stresses that climate mainstreaming requires consistency and coherence, both within the CAP itself, and between the Union’s agricultural and trade policies; notes that CAP payments, in particular voluntary coupled support for livestock production, should be subject to the necessary conditions to ensure that payments support only those production methods which are positive for climate, environment and biodiversity;