6 Amendments of Agnes SCHIERHUBER related to 2008/0103(CNS)
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Protection and management of water in the context of the agricultural activity has increasingly become a problem in certain areas. It is therefore appropriate to also reinforce the existing Community framework for good agricultural and environmental condition with the aim to protect water against pollution and run-off and to manage the use of water. Biodiversity is partially a result of agricultural practices. It should be viewed as an environmental concern of the CAP. The European Community’s commitment to stemming the loss of biodiversity by 2010 makes it necessary to implement the means of achieving that goal. It is therefore appropriate also to strengthen the existing Community framework as concerns good agricultural and environmental condition, in order to preserve biodiversity throughout Community territory.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The savings made through the modulation mechanism introduced by Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 are used to finance measures under the rural development policy. Since the adoption of that regulation the agricultural sector has been faced with a number of new and demanding challenges such as climate change, the increasing importance of bio- energy, as well as the need for a better water management and a more effective protection of biodiversity. The European Community, as party to the Kyoto Protocol, has been called to adapt its policies in the light of the climate change considerations. Furthermore, following serious problems related to water scarcity and droughts, water management issues should be further addressed. Protecting biodiversity remains a major challenge and while important progress has been made, the achievement of the European Community’s biodiversity target for 2010 will require additional efforts. The Community acknowledges the need to tackle these new challenges in the framework of its policies. In the area of agriculture, a minimum threshold of actions should be introduced throughout Community territory using the first pillar of the CAP, which the rural development programs adopted under Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2006 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) are an appropriate tool to deal with themwill complement in the pursuit of better-targeted actions and efforts. To enable Member States to revise their rural development programmes accordingly without being required to reduce their current rural development activities in other areas, additional funding needs to be made available. However, the financial perspectives for the period 2007 to 2013 do not provide for the financial means to reinforce the Community’s rural development policy as necessary. Under these circumstances it is appropriate to mobilise a large part of the financial resources needed by providing for a gradual increase of the reduction of direct payments through modulation.
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to help farmers to meet the standards of modern, high-quality agriculture, it is necessary that Member States operate a comprehensive system offering advice to commercial farms. The farm advisory system should help farmers to become more aware of material flows and on-farm processes relating to the environment, biodiversity, food safety, animal health and welfare without in any way affecting their obligation and responsibility to respect those standards.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a Each Member State shall be free to introduce ‘bonus’ cross-compliance that awards farmers bonus points for actions fostering biodiversity and implemented in addition to the obligations arising from good agro-environmental cross-compliance. Each Member State shall define the actions for which those points can be awarded. The bonus points may be used to offset penalty points incurred in the area of the good agricultural and environmental condition described to in Article 6. The arrangements for that offsetting shall be laid down by the Member States.
Amendment 459 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – letter (a a) (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – letter (a a) (new)
(aa) any area of the holding considered to be an agro-ecological element fostering biodiversity. Each Member State shall decide on the procedures for establishing a list of those elements;
Amendment 765 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – line 5 a (new)
Annex III – line 5 a (new)
Issue: Preserve biodiversity Standards: maintain a biodiversity area