36 Amendments of Adrian-Dragoş BENEA
Amendment 11 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions, especially in the agriculture sector, where the sources of methane emissions are often diffuse and make measurement, reporting and verification challenging; welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop, in cooperation with international partners, an international emissions observatory; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that agriculture plays an important role in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation; highlights that European agriculture is the only major system in the world that significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) since 1990 and that the emissions from EU agriculture are among the lowest worldwide; underlines that reducing European production to fight climate change runs the risk of exporting GHG emissions (“carbon leakage”) and accepting lower animal health and welfare standards, leading to a shift in production towards other parts of the world and to an abandonment of certain land upon which grazing is the only means of valorisation and which constitutes a rich source of biodiversity with environmental, social and economic repercussions on EU rural regions and landscapes;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Amendment 34 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Calls on the European Commission to clarify the share contribution of EU agriculture to the EU's anthropogenic methane emissions, to differentiate this share to the world’s agriculture one and to estimate the contribution of the imported agri-food products to the EU anthropogenic methane emissions, through the EDGAR- FOOD database;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Emphasises that a significant share of global methane emissions in the agri-food sector originates outside of the EU; emphasizes the need for the EU to take the lead in exchanges of best practices with its third countries' trading partners with the aim to reduce methane emissions from agriculture, including, for example, through forestry-based initiatives;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Calls for the definition of policies and measures to encourage and support improved climatic performance of agricultural and livestock production through reductions in methane emissions, in line with the principle of ensuring access for all population groups in Europe to healthy, safe and sufficient food;
Amendment 47 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Calls for regulatory measures based on national and regional specificities and production systems for emissions from agriculture and related land use as part of the “Fit for 55” package to ensure ambitious reductions in all GHG emissions in these sectors in the EU and also to address embedded land use emissions from imported feed and food; calls for harmonized calculation methods for methane and then a regulatory framework that incentivizes progressive reductions in methane emissions to deliver on climate objectives; reiterates that especially the methane reduction calculation should consider innovative feed additives and nutrition management plans, as well as innovative husbandry practices;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Commission to ensure positive synergies between climate regulation and the Industrial Emissions Directive in order to avoid double regulation; welcomes the announcement of the European Commission to revise the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) in order to reflect the increased carbon reduction target through increased incentives to reduce methane emissions, for example through specific dedicated eco-schemes and carbon farming initiatives under the new CAP;
Amendment 63 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. HStresses the importance of recognizing the progress made by the agri-food sector to offset emissions and restore soil fertility; highlights that further research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sectoralls, in this regard, on the European Commission to develop and constantly update, in line with the latest state-of-the-art technologies, an inventory of best practices for the farming sector and in cooperation with farmers, stakeholders, Member States and local, regional and national authorities; supports the stimulating uptake of regenerative agriculture practices, improving also the access to technologies, data, training and information, and diversifying farmers’ income through payments for ecosystem services, thereby increasing their resilience; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector, while decreasing the dependence of imported plant proteins; underlines, in this regard, that the livestock sector not only has a great potential to help the EU successfully achieve its methane emissions' reduction targets, but also has a key role in preserving unique biodiversity functions;
Amendment 84 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 90 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Highlights that economic viability is critical in maintaining sustainable livestock farms and ensuring the development and implementation of future mitigation practices, as well as a secure and stable supply of food; stresses the need that future policy decisions have to ensure that the livestock activity can deliver and at the same time continue to be able to project itself; underlines that the sector must continue to constitute a real source of employment and the profession must remain attractive for the young generations;
Amendment 95 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Emphasizes the importance of new animal feed strategies able, inter alia, through the supplementary feeding of red algae (Asparagopsis), to reduce methane emissions in the livestock sector; underlines the need for new scientific research and innovation in anaerobic digestion and composting as an effective solution to recycle organic waste materials (production of biomass and organic fertilizers) and prevent methane emissions;
Amendment 105 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy, only if it's done in a sustainable way; recalls, in this regard, that in order to meet new environmental targets, a balance of plant and animal production should be maintained, which will ensure sufficient amount of nutrients and organic matter in the soils in the EU, positively influencing the biodiversity and contributing to more healthy and balanced dietary habits of the Europeans; encourages farming models able to be sustainable socially, environmentally and economically; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste in a sustainable way, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions;
Amendment 120 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights the active engagement of the agricultural sector in climate action and recognizes the full potential of woodlands and grasslands; calls for the development of nutrient management systems and innovative dietary solutions to reduce methane emissions in the livestock sector and for methods to calculate the true impact of methane on the environment to be developed in light of more recent research on the lifecycle of methane;
Amendment 140 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. CWelcomes the announcement of the European Commission to set up an expert group with the aim of analysing the life-cycle methane emissions matrix; considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; highlights the need to assess not just the impact on methane emissions of specific livestock management and animal welfare choices, imported or domestic feeds and intensive or pastoral farming choices, but also of the impact of supplementing the animal diet with feed additives on animal health, pest resilience, food safety(toxicity), productivity, product quality, environmental impact;
Amendment 152 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Acknowledges that animal production is the only possible activity on permanent grassland, allowing the survival, economic stability and existence of rural farms in hill and mountain regions, thus preventing the overgrowth of such areas and the excessive reproduction of large carnivores (bears, wolves), the promotion of animal production therefore being essential in such areas; underlines that carbon storage by grasslands compensates up to 45% of GHG emissions (almost all of the enteric fermentation produced by ruminants); stresses the need to integrate the carbon stored by grasslands and their capacity not to release carbon in order to better assess the mitigation potential of agriculture;
Amendment 167 #
2021/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Commission to include in its forthcoming Long Term Vision for Rural Areas cross-sector cooperative approaches with and amongst farmers and local communities in order to develop and promote circularity also in the field of sustainable biogas production, aiming at reducing methane emissions;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas the degradation of habitats and disruption of migration corridors by, for example, river modifications and dams, overexploitation for their caviar and meat, as well as pollution have driven sturgeons to the brink of extinction; whereas the drastic decrease of the number of spawners, associated with the population decline, trigger the failure of the natural reproduction, reducing the chance of the few remaining males and females to meet and spawn;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. Whereas the data held by the research institutes indicate that the populations of sturgeon species are fragmented, missing certain generations, and the species of sturgeon natural reproduction is deficient, the number of adults migrating to the Danube for reproduction is extremely low and the species sturgeon is on the verge of extinction;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Amendment 85 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Commission to urgently and temporarily transfer the sturgeons from Annex V to Annex II or even Annex I to Habitats Directive 92/43 / EEC, until scientifically determined that wild stock of sturgeons are no longer red listed under the IUCN list;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Subheading 2 a (new)
Subheading 2 a (new)
Stresses the emergency to establish “fish stock recovery areas” (or “no take zones”) in the Black Sea, to allow the recovery of the wild populations of sturgeons, as such areas were proven beneficial both for biodiversity conservation and for fishery management;
Amendment 114 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Amendment 180 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the high level of ambition when setting targets; strongly recommends, however, that such targets should not be legally binding, and that they should be set on a case-by-case basis, adapted to local specificities and to the level required to protect nature; recommends that such targets should also take into account socio-economic considerations, should be backed by reconversion programs and alternative livelihood to fishing communities and the need to ensure a long-term resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture value chain, be proportionate with the objective pursued and have a solid scientific basis;
Amendment 208 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Welcomes the restoration of free flowing of rivers in a sustainable way, taking into account the environmental, social and economic aspects, investing in technology and innovation for the creation of fishing migrating routes, without hindering the right of Member States to decide on their energy mix, the economic activity of hydropower plants, the energy security and the environmental benefits of hydropower;
Amendment 4 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regrets that, in the proposed revised ceiling for the new heading 3 of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the major categories of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) spending are likely to be cut in 2021, namely direct payments, market measures and rural development; recalls Parliament’s previous resolutions asking for the CAP funding to be maintained, in real terms, at least at current levels;
Amendment 11 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note of the EUR 55 182 million in commitments and EUR 54 879,9 million in payments for agriculture; is concerned over the severe decrease of -7,4 % in European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) appropriations (EUR -3 231 million in commitments and EUR -3 215 million in payments ) compared to the budget for the financial year 2020; notes that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) appropriations are increased to EUR 15 002,9 million in commitments (+2,1 %) and EUR 14 715 million (+12,2 %) in payments compared to the budget for the financial year 2020; takes note of the net transfer of EUR -753,9 million from the EAGF to the EAFRD;
Amendment 12 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has emphasised the strategic role that agriculture plays in avoiding a food crisis, by providing safe and high-quality food at affordable prices; insists that food chain security, sustainability and resilience requires further investments to farmers, cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas;
Amendment 14 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls also that the Commission evaluation deemed the CAP to be the appropriate framework for developing the targets in the European Green Deal; notes, therefore, that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding;
Amendment 18 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges, therefore, the Council to allow the Union to meet its commitments in providing sufficient funding for a safe, high-quality food supply, climate action, environmental protection and for the Just Transition Mechanism and the Just Transition Fund, which the agriculture sector needs to benefit significantly from in order to reach the targets of the European Green Deal; notstresses that increased sustainability requirements demand adequate funding; draws attention to the fact that the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of Union food production and supply; recalls that food security and food chain sustainability require investments and support to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areasthe support from Next Generation EU to meet those targets in the scope of rural development needs to be made available as soon as possible, from 2021;
Amendment 34 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. AsksStresses that the Commission to commit, when revising the draft budget via the amending letter, needs to adjusting its figures upwards in order to address the market crisis in certain key sectors negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis;
Amendment 41 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the importance of the Union budget, through rural development and Horizon Europe programmes in supporting research, development and innovation in the agri- food sector and bioeconomy, which is essential in the transition to a zero-carbon economy by replacing fossil-based products.;
Amendment 38 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas, on March 2019, the European Commission, as a response to a Parliament’s request, declared it would continue to apply strict conditionality to its financial assistance to Moldova, and together with the EEAS, will monitor and assess Moldova's progress in implementation of DCFTA/AA with the EU in all sectoral areas, through both bilateral and Eastern Partnership regional channels;
Amendment 96 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines that the situation in Moldova should be closely monitored in the long term, including during the pre- electoral period, in accordance with the normal OSCE/ODIHR practices and standards, particularly in the current period of crisis, as the forthcoming presidential elections will be a test for democracy and the rule of law in the country;
Amendment 138 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 33 #
2019/2028(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Regrets the decrease in Cohesion Fund appropriations compared to the previous programming period and notes the risks of widening development gaps in terms of basic infrastructure, in particular the transport infrastructure; calls for more flexible budgetary mechanisms to facilitate the reallocation of funding to additional investments in basic infrastructure, especially TEN-T infrastructure, as the driving force behind economic, social and territorial inclusion at EU level in those Member States whose development is clearly lagging behind;