41 Amendments of Elisabeth KÖSTINGER related to 2011/2051(INI)
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas a sustainable, productive and competitive European agriculture and forestry makes a significant contribution to the EU 2020 Strategy and to meeting new political challenges such as security of supply of food, energy and industrial raw materials, climate change, the environment and biodiversity, health and demographic change in the EU and whereas in this context the situation brought about by the Lisbon Treaty must be taken into account,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in its resolution of 8 July 2010 on the future of the CAP after 2013 the European Parliament upholds the concept of multifunctional, broad-based agriculture spread throughout Europe and whereas in its resolution of 8 July 2010 on the future of the CAP after 2013 it, particularly in areas with natural handicaps and extremely peripheral already laid the foundations for sustainable agricultures, also taking into account small farms,
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas there should not be any differentiation in the treatment of farmers according to size of holding and legal form for the purpose of direct payments, although the possibility of introducing a basic allowance for small farmers should not be excludbe introduced,
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas there should not be any differentiation in the treatment of farmers according to size of holding and legal form for the purpose of direct payments, although the possibility of introducing a basic allowance for small farmers should not be excluded, partly in the interests of social acceptance, it is necessary to limit payments to large farmers, but at the same time the impact on employment should be taken into account,
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas, in order to preserve small- scale farming in Europe, it is necessary to lend special support to smaller farmers, including by simplifying bureaucratic requirements,
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas effective measures should be taken to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of profits in the food chain, particularly by shortening the supply chain and promoting regional economic activity by bolstering cooperative structures and direct marketing,
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas, because the world economy is becoming integrated more rapidly, trade systems aremore liberalised, trade rules should as as rule being liberalis adjusted more by multilateral negotiations (the Doha Round) and whereasagreements under the auspices of the WTO and not by bilateral agreements and whereas in this context in relation to imports from third countries environmental, animal welfare, plant protection and consumer protection standards need to be raised to EU level and minimum employment standards should be complied with,
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Recital P a (new)
Pa. whereas account should be taken of the difficult conditions in areas with natural and geographical handicaps (mountain and island regions, sparsely populated areas and extremely peripheral areas), inter alia because they are mostly significant cultural landscapes and areas of high recreational value,
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P b (new)
Recital P b (new)
Pb. whereas wood is the most significant sustainably produced energy carrier and makes an important contribution to the 2020 Strategy, and it will therefore remain necessary in future to promote forestry in the context of rural development, particularly in regions where forests make a major contribution to protection against risks, fighting erosion and promoting touristic attractiveness,
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P c (new)
Recital P c (new)
Pc. whereas in many places the ageing of farmers has attained disturbing proportions and it therefore seems necessary to retain existing measures in full and in addition to create new incentives for young entrepreneurs to take up farming,
Amendment 433 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. In the case of direct farm payments, advocates moving away from historical and individual reference values and calls for a transition to a uniform area-based regional or national premium forcombined with the possibility of tailored decoupled payments in the next financing period; recognises, however, that the situations in the individual Member States are very disparate, requiring special measures per region;
Amendment 461 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need for special support in the form of an adequate basic allowance for small farmers, which Member States can optionally determine in those Member States where these farms help to stabilisemake a vital contribution to rural development; calls for these Member States to decide, in accordance with subsidiarity, what percentage of the direct payments to be incorporated in the new subsidy system should be made available to their small farmers; stresses, however, that this must not hamper the necessary structural change and regards a significant additional payment in respect of the initial hectares cultivated by all farms as a workable approach; stresses, however, that this must not hamper the necessary structural change; supports the Commission proposal to introduce specific, simplified support arrangements for small farmers in an effort to safeguard small-scale family farming, in particular in less favoured areas, and reduce red tape; emphasises, in that connection, that 82% of farmers receive support of less than EUR 5000, so that reducing the bureaucratic burden on small farmers would lead to a significant reduction in the administrative costs they incur and greater acceptance of the CAP among farmers;
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for a further simplification of the direct payment system, for example simplified transfer rules for payment entitlements in the event of non-activation, merging of minimum payment entitlements, simplification of the rules governing the national reserve and changes to gear them more to young farmers, who should be granted priority access when taking over a farm, or reduce them, depending on the transition to the regional/national single area payment, abolition of handwritten cattle registries, an effective and unbureaucratic monitoring system for both pillars and uniform penalties; considers that administrative systems which can be proven to be operating well should be looked upon favourably in the light of the scale of monitoring prescribed;
Amendment 489 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes that measures to target generational renewal in the agricultural sector are needed given that only 6% of European farmers are younger than 35, and at the same time 4.5 million will retire in the next 10 years; Recognizes that young farmers have obstacles to start up such as high investment costs, access to land and credit. The measures for young farmers contained in pillar II have proved to be insufficient in stopping rapid ageing in the agricultural sector. Thus, it is necessary to call for the possibilities of increasing the amount of direct payments for young farmers within pillar I in order to attract young people to the farming sector and support them in the first years of business, when they are the most vulnerable;
Amendment 505 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that decoupling has essentially proved its worth, given the increased effect on income and greater autonomy in decision-making on the part of farmers and the associated simplification of the CAP, and calls for this also, in general, to apply to suckler cow and sheep premiums; recognises, however, that in certain sectors and regions such as mountain regions, whereCAP; endorses the Commission’s suggestion that in future as well coupled premiums should continue to be paid in certain areas (e.g. mountain regions, northern regions, etc.) in which there areis no alternatives to relatively labour-intensive livestock farming, there may be considerable economic and environmental drawbacks which cannot be reconciled with the aims of the Treaty; acknowledges, therefore, that coupled headage-based premiums might be defensible within a narrowly defined framework even for a limited period after 2013the established, cost-intensive forms of production and products; draws attention, in particular, to the need to safeguard dairy farming in those areas even after the milk quota system has been discontinued, since without a properly functioning dairy sector land used for agricultural purposes, in particular meadows and alpine pasture, cannot be protected;
Amendment 527 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 585 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to submit by 30 June 2016 a report setting out comprehensively how livestock farming in Europe can be safeguarded in the long term with regard to safeguarding the existence of farms, multifunctionality, biodiversity and regional aspects (such as mountain areas), for example by means of premiums for extensive grassland or pasture land or payments to offset high transport costs in mountainous areas, and also dealing with the question of how far the aims of the CAP can be realised in a more efficient, targeted way by means of decoupled, indirect support, e.g. premiums for extensive grassland or pasture land;
Amendment 628 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that better resource protection is an element in sustainable farming, which should involve separate support for environmental measures going beyond the requirements of Cross Compliance (CC), which already entail many environmental measures, and being geared to multiannual applications, as a result of which greater environmental benefits can be attained; takes the view that this should be secured at present in the first pillar by the requirements of Cross Compliance (CC), and in the second pillar by voluntary agri- environmental programmes; considers that both instruments have essentially proved their worth but must be strengthened in future with appropriate incentive components;
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 736 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 761 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Amendment 792 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls, in view of the greater concentration of direct payments on resource protection and environmental measures, for a substantial reduction oftargeted approach to the scope of CC; calls on the Commission to make significant progress in simplifying and harmonising the rules on, and procedures and documentation for, monitoring;
Amendment 808 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for an end to disproportionate burdens imposed on livestock farming by CC, and particularly for a critical review of certain hygiene, animal health and animal marking standards;
Amendment 810 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 922 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 943 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Considers that private-sector insurance schemes, such as multi-hazard insurance, must be developed in view of increasing risks; endorses particularly in this connection joint action by farmers to form consortia and cooperatives; is aware of the fact that, without public contributions to the financing (from the EU and Member States), this would be difficult; supports the adoption of an EU- wide and WTO- compliant environment to ensure that no distortions of competition occur among Member States; rejects, however, the introduction of EU-wide insurance systems;
Amendment 1012 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Advocates that the 2006 sugar market reform be extended to 2020 in its existing form in order to develop a system for the subsequent period which can operate without quotas; and calls for suitable measures to safeguard sugar production in Europe;
Amendment 1022 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Calls on the Commission in this connection to intensify its efforts in the field of research and development for the purposes of innovation and promotion; urges therefore that future EU research and development programmes devote constant attention to agricultural and nutritional research;
Amendment 1039 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. ObservUrges that speculation in agricultural commodities should be combated; advocates a worldwide notification system for agricultural stocks; observes that consideration should be given to maintaining stocks of vital agricultural commodities;
Amendment 1072 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Is aware of the importance of the second pillar, in view of its environmental, modernisation and structural improvement achievements, but also for attaining political objectives, which should also principally benefit farmers; calls therefore for second- pillar measures to be better suited to their objectives, so that the effectiveness of growth, employment and climate measures and measures for the benefit of rural areas can be increased; considers that, in this context, particular attention should be devoted to assisting young farmers, and to training and farm advisory services, particularly in mountain areas;
Amendment 1074 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Is aware of the importance of the second pillar, in view of its environmental, modernisation and structural improvement achievements, but also for attaining political objectives, which should also benefit farmers; calls therefore for second- pillar measures to be better suited to their objectives, so that the effectiveness of growth, employment and climate measures and measures for the benefit of rural areas can be increased; considers that, in this context, particular attention should be devoted to assisting young farmers; in face of the rapid ageing farming population in Europe, attractive measures for young farmers are urgent; as a supply to pillar I it is necessary to strengthen and improve existing supportive measures for young farmers in pillar II, in particular support for innovation and modernizing investments on the farm; encourages educational and training programmes to be developed for young farmers.
Amendment 1088 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Emphasises the importance of young farmers and ‘newcomers’ in maintaining a productive and sustainable farming industry in Europe; points out that life expectancy increased by 15 years between 1950 and 2010, and therefore calls on the Commission to rethink its definition of ‘young farmer’, including with a view to attracting newcomers into farming; insists, in this regard, that investment subsidies for young farmers and newcomers must remain at the current level,
Amendment 1090 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Believes that in view of the rapid ageing of the European farming population, on the one hand, and the great economic development potential of young farmers, on the other, urgent assistance and alternative measures for young farmers will be decisive in making the sector innovative and dynamic, responding to social demands and helping to meet the three challenges of food security, territorial balance and natural resources;
Amendment 1138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. AdvocateCalls ion this connection that the compensatory allowance for disadvantaged areas be retained in the second pillar; considers that it should be ascertained what cofinancing rate appe Commission, in its redelimitation of disadvantaged areas, to take account of the comments made by the European Parliament in its resolution of 5 May 2010 on ‘Agriculture in arears to be appropriate; with natural handicaps: a special health check’;
Amendment 1174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Stresses at the same time, however, that rural structures differ widely in the Member States and therefore require different measures; calls therefore for flexibility to allow the Member States and regions to adopt voluntary measures, the cofinancing rate for which should be based on the rates current at the time;
Amendment 1179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Amendment 1180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 c (new)
Paragraph 51 c (new)
51 c. Supports the efforts of the Commission under the second pillar of the agricultural policy to promote cooperation among farmers, particularly in the shared use of equipment, the marketing of products, the joint organisation of work, and common efforts in livestock rearing, so as to reduce the competitive disadvantages of small farms;
Amendment 1192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Advocates that, in the case of measures which are of particular importance to Member States, an optional increase of 25% in national financing in the second pillar (top-up) should be possible and that the existing cofinancing options should continue after 2013;
Amendment 1209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Advocates that it should not be compulsory for national cofinancing to come from public funds; considers that at least 10 percentage points of any national cofinancing should come from public fundsnational cofinancing in its present form;
Amendment 1223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Calls for simplification and a review of the cross-compliance rules for the 2nd pillar such that the same rules and procedures apply to the checks, where these are relevant to second-pillar measures, as for the first pillar, considers simplification of the current indicator system to be necessary and takes a critical view of the introduction of quantitative targets;
Amendment 1227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55 a. Stresses that the development of food quality policy, including in terms of geographical indication (PDO/PGI/TSG), must be a priority aspect of the CAP and be deepened and strengthened so that the EU can maintain its leadership position in this area; takes the view that, in the case of these high-quality products, the use of original management, protection and promotion instruments should be allowed, enabling them to develop in a harmonious fashion and to continue to make their major contribution to the sustainable growth and competitiveness of European agriculture;