BETA

29 Amendments of Jens GEIER related to 2011/0282(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
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.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20

(20) The agricultural sector is subject more than other sectors to damage to its productive potential caused by natural disasters. In order to help farm viability and competitiveness in the face of such disasters support should be provided for helping farmers restore agricultural potential damaged. Member States should also ensure that no overcompensation of damages occurs as a result of the combination of Union ~~(in particular the risk management measure)~~, national and private compensation schemes. In order to ensure the efficient and effective use of EAFRD budgetary resources, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of defining the eligible costs under this measure.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) The creation and development of new economic activity in the form of new farms, new businesses or new investments in non-agricultural activities is essential for the development and competitiveness of rural areas. A farm and business development measure should facilitate the initial establishment of young farmers and the structural adjustment of their holdings after initial setting up, diversification of farmers into non-agricultural activities and the setting up and development of non- agricultural SMEs in rural areas. The development of small farms which are potentially economically viable should also be encouraged. In order to ensure the viability of new economic activities supported under this measure, support should be made conditional on the submission of a business plan. Support for business start up should cover only the initial period of the life of a business and not become operating aid. Therefore, where Member States opt to grant aid in instalments these should be for a period of no more than five years. In addition in order to encourage the restructuring of the agricultural sector, support in the form of annual payments should be provided for farmers participating in the small farmers scheme established by Title V of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012 who commit to transfer their entire holding and the corresponding payment entitlements to another farmer who does not participate in that scheme.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
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 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 2530% 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 areas facing natural or other specific constraints measures.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37

(37) Farmers are exposed today to increasing economic and environmental risks as a consequence of climate change and increased price volatility. In this context, effective management of risks has an increased importance for farmers. For this reason a risk management measure should be set up to assist farmers in addressing the most common risks faced by them. This measure should therefore support farmers to cover the premiums they pay for crop, animal and plant insurance as well as the setting up of mutual funds and the compensation paid by such funds to farmers for losses suffered as a result of the outbreak of animal or plant diseases or environmental incidents. It should also cover an income stabilisation tool in the form of a mutual fund to support farmers facing a severe drop in their income. In order to ensure that there is equal treatment among farmers across the Union, that competition is not distorted and that the international obligations of the Union are respected, specific conditions should be provided for the granting of support under these measures. In order to ensure the efficient use of EAFRD budgetary resources the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of defining the minimum and maximum duration of commercial loans to mutual funds.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1

1. The EAFRD shall contribute to the Europe 2020 Strategy as part of a European rural development strategy by promoting sustainable rural development throughout the Union in a complementary manner to the other instruments of the common agricultural policy (hereinafter “CAP”), and in a coordinated and complementary manner to cohesion policy and to the common fisheries policy. It shall contribute to a more territorially and environmentally balanced, climate-friendly and resilient and innovative Union agricultural sector.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
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:

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b

~~(b) supporting farm risk management:~~deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a

(a) ~~facilitating~~encouraging economic diversification, creation of new ~~small~~ enterprises and job ~~creation~~s;

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point c

(c) enhancing accessibility to, use and quality of new technologies and information and communication technologies ~~(ICT) in rural areas.~~;

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point c a (new)

(ca) making it easier for young people, especially women, to settle in rural areas by encouraging activities that encourage a better balance between work and family life.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) annual payments for farmers participating in the small farmers scheme established by Title V of Regulation (EU) No DP/2012 (hereafter "the small farmers scheme") who permanently transfer their holding to another farmer.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 5

Support under paragraph 1(c) shall be granted to farmers participating in the small farmers scheme, at the time of submitting their application for support, for at least one year and who commit to permanently transfer their entire holding and the corresponding payment entitlements to another farmer. Support shall be paid from the date of the transfer until 31 December 2020.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

~~7. Support under paragraph 1(c) shall be equal to 120% of the annual payment that the beneficiary received under the small farmers scheme.~~deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2

2. "Agro-forestry systems" shall mean land use systems in which trees are grown in combination with extensive agriculture on the same land. The maximum number of trees to be planted per hectare shall be determined by the Member States taking account of local pedo-climatic conditions, forestry species and the need to ensure sustainable agricultural use of the land.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

2. Agri-environment-climate payments shall be granted to farmers, groups of farmers or groups of farmers and other land-managers who undertake, on a voluntary basis, to carry out operations co~~nsisting of~~mplying with one or more agri- environment-climate commitments ~~on agricultural land~~. Where duly justified to achieve environmental objectives, agri- environment-climate payments may be granted to other land- managers or groups of other land- managers.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 37

Risk management 1. Support under this measure shall cover (a) financial contributions, paid directly to farmers, to premiums for crop, animal and plant insurance against economic losses caused by adverse climatic events and animal or plant diseases or pest infestation; (b) financial contributions to mutual funds to pay financial compensations to farmers, for economic losses caused by the outbreak of an animal or plant disease or an environmental incident; (c) an income stabilisation tool, in the form of financial contributions to mutual funds, providing compensation to farmers who experience a severe drop in their income. 2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 points (b) and (c), ‘mutual fund’ shall mean a scheme accredited by the Member State in accordance with its national law for affiliated farmers to insure themselves, whereby compensation payments are made to affiliated farmers affected by economic losses caused by the outbreak of an animal or plant disease or an environmental incident or experiencing a severe drop in their income. 3. Member States shall ensure that overcompensation as a result of the combination of this measure with other national or Union support instruments or private insurance schemes is avoided. Direct income support received under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (hereinafter "EGF") shall also be taken into consideration when estimating the income levels of farmers. 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 90 concerning the minimum and maximum duration of the commercial loans to mutual funds referred to in Articles 39(3)(b) and 40(4).deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 38

Crop, animal, and plant insurance 1. Support under Article 37(1)(a) shall only be granted for insurance contracts which cover for loss caused by an adverse climatic event or by an animal or plant disease or a pest infestation or a measure adopted in accordance with Directive 2000/29/EC to eradicate or contain a plant disease or pest which destroys more than 30 % of the average annual production of the farmer in the preceding three-year period or a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period, excluding the highest and lowest entry. 2. The occurrence of an adverse climatic event or the outbreak of an animal or plant disease or pest infestation has to be formally recognised as such by the competent authority of the Member State concerned. Member States may, where appropriate, establish in advance criteria on the basis of which such formal recognition shall be deemed to be granted. Insurance payments shall compensate for not more than the total of the cost of replacing the losses referred to in Article 37(1)(a) and shall not require or specify the type or quantity of future production. Member States may limit the amount of the premium that is eligible for support by applying appropriate ceilings. 4. Support shall be limited to the maximum amount laid down in Annex I.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 39

Mutual funds for animal and plant diseases and environmental incidents 1. In order to be eligible for support the mutual fund concerned shall: (a) be accredited by the competent authority in accordance with national law; (b) have a transparent policy towards payments into and withdrawals from the fund; (c) have clear rules attributing responsibilities for any debts incurred. 2. Member States shall define the rules for the constitution and management of the mutual funds, in particular for the granting of compensation payments to farmers in the event of crisis and for the administration and monitoring of compliance with these rules. 3. The financial contributions referred to in Article 37(1)(b) may only relate to: the administrative costs of setting up the mutual fund, spread over a maximum of three years in a degressive manner; the amounts paid by the mutual fund as financial compensation to farmers. In addition, the financial contribution may relate to interest on commercial loans taken out by the mutual fund for the purpose of paying the financial compensation to farmers in case of crisis. No contribution by public funds shall be made to initial capital stock. 4. As regards animal diseases, financial compensation under Article 37(1)(b) may only be granted in respect of diseases mentioned in the list of animal diseases established by the World Organisation for Animal Health and/or in the Annex to Decision 90/424/EEC. 5. Support shall be limited to the maximum rate laid down in Annex I. Member States may limit the costs that are eligible for support by applying: (a) ceilings per fund; (b) appropriate per unit ceilings.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 40

Income stabilisation tool 1. Support under Article 37(1)(c) may only be granted where the drop of income exceeds 30% of the average annual income of the individual farmer in the preceding three-year period or a three- year average based on the preceding five- year period excluding the highest and lowest entry. Income for the purposes of Article 37(1)(c) shall refer to the sum of revenues the farmer receives from the market, including any form of public support, deducting input costs. Payments by the mutual fund to farmers shall compensate for not more than 70% of the income lost. 2. In order to be eligible for support the mutual fund concerned shall: (a) be accredited by the competent authority in accordance with national law; (b) have a transparent policy towards payments into and withdrawals from the fund; (c) have clear rules attributing responsibilities for any debts incurred. 3. Member States shall define the rules for the constitution and management of the mutual funds, in particular for the granting of compensation payments to farmers in the event of crisis and for the administration and monitoring of compliance with these rules. 4. The financial contributions referred to in Article 37(1)(c) may only relate to the amounts paid by the mutual fund as financial compensation to farmers. In addition, the financial contribution may relate to interest on commercial loans taken out by the mutual fund for the purpose of paying the financial compensation to farmers in case of crisis. No contribution by public funds shall be made to initial capital stock. 5. Support shall be limited to the maximum rate laid down in Annex I.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 41

Rules on the implementation of the measures 1. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt rules on the implementation of the measures in this section concerning: (a) procedures for selection of authorities or bodies offering farm and forestry advisory services, farm management or farm relief services and the degressivity of the aid under the advisory services measure referred to in Article 16 ; (b) the assessment by the Member State of the progress of the business plan, payment options as well as modalities for access to other measures for young farmers under the farm and business development measure referred to in Article 20; (c) demarcation with other measures, conversion to units other than those used in Annex I, calculation of transaction costs and conversion or adjustment of commitments under the agri- environment-climate measure referred to in Article 29, the organic farming measure referred to in Article 30 and the forest-environmental and climate services and forest conservation measure referred to in Article 35; (d) the possibility of using standard assumptions of income foregone under the measures of Articles 29, 30, 31, 32, 34 and 35 and criteria for its calculation; (e) calculation of the amount of support where an operation is eligible for support under more than one measures. These implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 91.deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

(ba) investments in modernising or constructing irrigation installations that are included in the plans or programmes of the Member States or regions and the exhaustive environmental assessment of which gives results that are considered to be favourable from the point of view of both the quality and the quantity of water;

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

6. ~~For the purposes of the allocation of the performance reserve referred to in Article 20(2) of Regulation (EU) No [CSF/2012],~~The available assigned revenue collected in accordance with Article 45 of Regulation (EU) No HR/2012 for the EAFRD shall be ~~added to the amounts referred to in Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No [CSF/2012]. It shall be~~ allocated to Member States proportionally to their share of the total amount of support from the EAFRD.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. At least 30% of the total EAFRD contribution to the rural development programme shall be reserved for measures under Articles 29, 30 and 31.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. The national contribution to the eligible public expenditure may be replaced by private contributions.

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 5 – paragraph 14

~~Article 37 Risk management~~deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 5 – paragraph 15

~~Article 38 Crop, animal, and plant insurance~~deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 5 – paragraph 16

~~Article 39 Mutual funds for animal and plant diseases and environmental incidents~~deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI

~~Article 40 Income stabilisation tool~~deleted

2012/09/13
Committee: REGI