Activities of Mazaly AGUILAR related to 2020/2273(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives (debate)
Amendments (38)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the damage to the planet’s biodiversity is almost at the point of no return and that biodiversity loss is a driver of zoonotic pathogens such as COVID-19; highlightNotes the scientific evidence on the role of trade in biodiversity loss, in particular with regard to trade in minerals, biomass and certain agricultural commodities, and biodiversity loss due to land-use changes, invasive alien species, overexploitation of resources and pollution;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the damage to the planet’s biodiversity is almost at the point of no return and that biodiversity loss is a driver of zoonotic pathogens such as COVID-19it is important and a matter of urgency to slow down worldwide biodiversity loss; highlights the scientific evidence on the role of trade in biodiversity loss, in particular with regard to trade in minerals, biomass and certain agricultural and in unsustainably produced biomass and commodities, and biodiversity loss due to land-use changes, invasive alien species, overexploitation of resources and pollution;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that agricultural productivity and resilience depend on biodiversity to guarantee the long-term sustainability of our food systems; underlines, furthermore, that much of the biodiversity across Europe has been created by farming and its survival is dependent on the continued active management of farmland; points out that the progressive abandonment of arable land in the EU poses an increasing threat to biodiversity;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the importance of the role of fishers, farmers, hunters and all mainstays of rural culture in defending biodiversity and protecting the ecosystem;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the importance of systematically including a biodiversity dimension, alongside the economic and social dimension, to all sustainable impact assessments (SIAs) that follow a robust methodology, as suggested by available Commission studies, and to consistently factor in biodiversity issues; requests that the Commission secure adequate funding for carrying out such analyses on biodiversity; calls for SIAs to be launched as part of the scoping exercise phase on future free trade agreements and for them to be regularly updated as negotiations develop in order to adequately identify and address possible risks as early as possible, and to shape relevant bilateral commitments outlined in the negotiations; stresses the importance of systematically conducting regular ex post sustainable impact assessments to ensure consistency with the EU’s international commitments on biodiversity; calls for trade and sustainable development chapters to include time-bound roadmaps that provide verifiable commitments and objectives, which are to be regularly monitored by ex post SIAs and for the lowering of (non- )tariff barriers be made conditional thereon; invites the Commission to update existing chapters accordingly;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to promote trade practices that protect geographical indications (GIs) more effectively, focusing in particular on local production, which is more in line with the objective of preserving biodiversity;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the high level of ambition of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 in seeking to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in the EU; considers that this level of ambition encourages policy action at all levels and promotes the development of research and innovative solutions to tackle biodiversity loss; stresses that the continuous decline in farmland biodiversity is a reality and that bold action is needed to counteract this trend, such as plant breeding to stress factors;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the EU’s trade policy and green diplomacy should aim to phase out fossil fuels and environmentally harmful subsidiesthose instruments that run counter to the objectives of sustainability as a matter of urgency in accordancline with the commitments taken at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh in 2009; invites the Commission to agree on a roadmap with each trade partner covered by a trade agreement, with milestones in place, and to show leadership in relevant international forums;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the high level of ambition of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 in seeking to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in the EU; considers that this level of ambition should encourages policy action at all levels and promotes the development of research and innovative solutions to tackle biodiversity loss; stresses that the continuous decline in farmland biodiversity is a reality and that bold science-based action is needed to counteract this trend;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the EU’s trade policy and green diplomacy should aim to phase outreplace fossil fuels and environmentally harmful subsidies as a matter of urgency in accordance with the commitments taken at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh in 2009; invites the Commission to agree on a roadmap with each trade partner covered by a trade agreement, with milestones in place, and to show leadership in relevant international forums;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out that a step-by-step approach should be adopted with regard to the introduction of a new trade agreement in order to avoid harming EU companies, especially SMEs, and ensure that we do not place our businesses at an economic disadvantage by requiring them to comply with new rules;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Supports the notion that EU trade policy can contribute to biodiversity protection by making it compatible with activities such as agriculture or forestry that are beneficial to the environment;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for compliance with European production standards when it comes to trade and imports from third countries; considers that imported food and products that do not comply with EU biodiversity standards should not be allowed into the internal market;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for a detailed impact study prior to the submission of any legislative proposal in the field of biodiversity to assess the social, environmental and economic implications based on data and scientific evidence;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for measures to be taken through trade agreements to promote and encourage the adoption of innovative practices and the digitisation of agriculture to enable the primary sector to adapt to the new demands of improved biodiversity in the EU and beyond;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Warns of the risk of certain productive sectors relocating to countries such as China where biodiversity legislation is laxer than in Europe, notwithstanding the Commission's determination to make them priority trading partners.
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to present a legislative proposal in Spring 2021 that will prohibit the placing of products associated with deforestation or forest degradation from the EU market; calls on the Commission to adopt a moratorium on imports of wild animals from reported emerging infectious disease hotspots;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes the gradual increase in forest areas in the EU in contrast to growing deforestation in different parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America;
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the benefits of promoting EU agricultural products, thereby heightening third-country awareness of the environmental, social and sustainability aspects of European methods of production; points out that priority should be given to organic, traditional and typical products with geographical indications and forming part of short food supply chains;
Amendment 104 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that biodiversity conservation is a key societal goal, requiring a broad and inclusive debate, and the effective participation of everyone in society, in particular those more affected by the measures, such as the farming community, while at the same benefiting from their knowledge and experience, and creating a sense of ownership, vital for the successful implementation of the strategy; points out that this goal can be achieved only by implementing a voluntary system that offers incentives to those farmers who opt for new and more sustainable productive models or practices;
Amendment 117 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that biodiversity conservation is a key societal goal, requiring a broad and inclusive debate, and the effective participation of everyone in societykey players, in particular those more affected by the measures, such as the farming community, while at the same benefiting from their knowledge and experience, and creating a sense of ownership, vital for the successful implementation of the strategy;
Amendment 129 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the key role of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in protecting and promoting farmland biodiversity; underlines the potential of the green architecture components of the CAP in promoting and providing incentives for the transition to more sustainable agricultural systems for producing food and maintaining high nature value farmland; considers that Member States must ensure the timely development and uptake of actions which contribute to enhancing the delivery and potential of biodiversity benefits in line with the required level of ambition; considers that the CAP cannot be the only tool for promoting biodiversity in European agriculture, and calls for the other Green Deal policies and instruments to assume their share of this responsibility;
Amendment 161 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of maintaining and restoring high-diversity landscape features in agricultural landscapes for their value in terms of biodiversity, pollinators and the natural biological control of pests; calls on the Member States to develop the necessary measures under their CAP Strategic Plans to promote non-productive areas and features with the aim of achieving an area of at least 10% of high diversity areas beneficial for biodiversity at national level, promoting interconnectivity between habitats and thereby maximising the potential for biodiversity; points out that reducing pesticide use and increasing landscape features must not come at the cost of lower productivity of European agriculture and increased imports from third countries;
Amendment 171 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of maintaining and restoring high-diversity landscape features in agricultural landscapes for their value in terms of biodiversity, pollinators and the natural biological control of pests; calls on the Member States to develop the necessary measures under their CAP Strategic Plans to promote non-productive areas and features with the aim of achieving an area of at least 10% of high diversity areas beneficial for biodiversity at national level, promoting interconnectivity between habitats and thereby maximising the potential for biodiversity;
Amendment 183 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recognises that extensively grazed pasture, regardless of the intended use of grazing livestock, is a highly valuable and seriously threatened ecosystem that needs appropriate European-wide protection and management in order to safeguard biodiversity;
Amendment 191 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the recognition of organic farming as a strong component on the EU’s path towards more sustainable food systems, and calls on the Commission to also examine the potential of other production models, such as integrated production or precision farming; underlines that the development of organicsustainable food production must be accompanied by research, innovation and scientific transfer, market and supply chain development, and measures stimulating demand for organic food, ensuring both the stability of the organic products market and the fair remuneration of farmers; stresses that the target of achieving 25% organic production by 2030 is both laudable and ambitious, but rejects the idea of this being a legal requirement without taking account of developments in the market and demand;
Amendment 207 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that the European model of a multifunctional agricultural sector, driven by family farms, continues to ensure quality food production, local supply chain, good agriculture practices, high environmental standards and vibrant rural areas throughout the EU. Each level of biodiversity must lead to overarching sustainability of agricultural production, at least at the current levels of production. Biodiversity as such cannot be a goal in itself. This is because an increased biodiversity may, inter alia, imply an increase of: invasive alien species(IAS), weeds, zoonotic diseases transferred to domestic animals and/or humans and other factors harmful to sustainability;
Amendment 210 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to carry out an environmental impact study on the use of natural pesticides in organic farming, bearing in mind the potential increase in organic farming in Europe and its role as a sustainable production system guaranteeing biodiversity;
Amendment 245 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that the promotion of sustainable forest management in the EU has had a positive impact on forests and forest conditions and on livelihoods in rural areas, as well as on the biodiversity of forests in the EU;
Amendment 247 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recognises that long-term public and private investments in a reinforced sustainable forest management which places equal focus on the social, environmental and economic benefits of forests can help ensure forests´ resilience and adaptive capacity, as well as achieving the transition to a circular bio- economy and the promotion of biodiversity;
Amendment 253 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Underlines the importance of resilient and healthy forest ecosystems including fauna and flora, in order to maintain and enhance the delivery of the multiple ecosystem services that forests provide, such as biodiversity, clean air, water, healthy soil and wood and non- wood raw materials;
Amendment 256 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Points out that achieving the EU´s goals for environment, climate and biodiversity will never be possible without forests that are multifunctional, healthy and sustainably managed applying a long- term perspective, together with viable forest-based industries;
Amendment 259 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Points out the need to develop a coherent approach to bring together biodiversity protection and climate protection in a thriving forest-based sector and bio-economy;
Amendment 266 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the importance of plant protection products and tools for the stability of agricultural production, food security and the sustainability of farmers’ incomes; considers that, although progress has been made, a substantial reduction in the use and risks of the most harmful chemical pesticides is needed; stresses the key role of integrated pest management and green biotechnology in reducing pesticide dependency, and urges the Member States to ensure it is applied and its implementation is assessed systematically; stresses that farmers need a bigger toolbox of effective crop protection solutions and methods, as well as bolstered systems of training and advisory systemce in the use of chemical and natural pesticides; deplores the fact that the gradual reduction in plant protection products has not been accompanied by alternatives allowing farmers to effectively combat new pests and diseases;
Amendment 270 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the importance of plant protection products and tools for the stability of agricultural production and the sustainability of farmers’ incomes; considers that, although progress has been made, a substantial reduction in the use and risks of chemical pesticides is needed; stresses the key role of integrated pest management in reducing pesticide dependency, and urges the Member States to ensure it is applied and its implementation is assessed systematically; stresses that farmers need a bigger toolbox of crop protection solutions and methods, as well as bolstered training and advisory systems;given the considerable differences across MS1a in use of pesticides and fertilisers, an arbitrary reduction of pesticides and fertilisers by 50% is a wrong policy tool; considers that certain levels of pesticides and fertilisers are justified from the point of view of sustainability and economics; stresses the key role of integrated pest management in reducing pesticide dependency, and urges the Member States to ensure it is applied and its implementation is assessed systematically; stresses that farmers need a bigger toolbox of crop protection solutions and methods1b; questions the economic impact and financial burden on farmers, tax-payers and Member States; _________________ 1aCalculations based on data from available statistical databases demonstrates a considerable differences among MS in the average of pesticides, of a magnitude of 20times greater between the average amounts of pesticides used in MS with the highest consumption and the MS with the lowest average consumption. 1bFarmers usually have superior knowledge of farming and dislike bureaucracy setting and obligations.
Amendment 294 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to ease and speed up authorisation procedures for plant protection products, such as biopesticides, that could form a real alternative to chemical pesticides;
Amendment 309 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the fact that agricultural production is being increasingly concentrated in a limited range of agricultural crops, varieties and genotypes; acknowledges that consumers preferences contributed to a decrease of biodiversity1a; underlines that preserving genetic variability in all its components is crucial to promoting the diversity and richness of agricultural ecosystems and to the preservation of local genetic resources, in particular as a repository of solutions to help in facing the environmental challenges that lie ahead. _________________ 1aE.g.: most consumers will not buy white carrots, when red carrots are more healthy, thus de facto contributing to less biodiversity.