Policy Shifts Under the Green Deal Framework
The most burdensome requirements linked to the Green Deal are set to be revised. The plan, included in a draft regulation backed by all member states, was outlined by EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski on Thursday. Among the changes, the set-aside obligation is slated for removal, along with other adjustments.
Commissioner Wojciechowski, speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committees for Agriculture and European Affairs, shared updates on the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy. The discussion focused on current and anticipated agricultural policy challenges with particular attention to issues impacting Poland.
Farmers’ Protests
Wojciechowski highlighted that the Green Deal related restrictions and difficulties in importing Ukrainian goods contributed to widespread protests in Poland. He noted that protests extend beyond Poland and the EU, occurring in about 65 countries with varying intensity.
He added that farmer discontent stems from rising production costs and fluctuating prices for agricultural products. These pressures are linked to broader global dynamics, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the resulting market instability. As a major exporter, Russia influences wheat markets worldwide, a factor farmers feel acutely.
– emphasized the EU Commissioner
What Do the Changes Mean?
The commissioner referred to a draft regulation aimed at relaxing conditionality standards tied to direct payments. On GAEC 6, which governs land cover, member states would gain flexibility to determine the timing of the obligation. Regarding GAEC 7, which addresses crop rotation, countries may opt for crop diversification as an alternative.
The obligation to set aside 4 percent of arable land (GAEC 8) will be eliminated and replaced by an eco scheme that provides financial support to farmers. The reforms are described as retroactive from January 1, 2024, though in practice they will not apply immediately.
Any farmer who fails to meet these updated conditions faces potential sanctions, the commissioner explained. The regulation was scheduled for a vote in the last week of April. He noted that five voluntary eco-schemes would remain in Poland and described them as beneficial for farmers.
It was reported that in 2023, 440,000 people participated in eco schemes, with substantial participation also noted in animal welfare programs. Subsidies for participants in these schemes were described as more substantial than in prior years.
Trade with Ukraine
The liberalization of trade with Ukraine is viewed as a net benefit for the broader European economy and for Poland as well. The commissioner pointed out that the EU exported 39 billion euros to Ukraine in 2022 and imported 23 billion euros, creating a positive EU trade balance of 16 billion euros. In Poland specifically, 2023 exports reached 11.5 billion euros with 4 billion euros in imports, yielding a 7.5 billion euro surplus, and Poland is a leading EU exporter to Ukraine in general trade.
In agricultural trade, the balance differed, with EU exports to Ukraine at 3 billion euros and imports at 11.5 billion euros in 2023. The agricultural sector bears the price of broader economic benefits enjoyed by other industries, and farmers require targeted support, the commissioner noted.
Wojciechowski emphasized his long-standing effort to include agriculture in war-related public assistance, noting that EUR 10 billion in support was allocated and that Poland was the largest beneficiary at EUR 4 billion. He described this as an unprecedented level of aid and underscored the need to extend such support beyond the current deadline of June 30 this year. A provisional agreement among member states to extend the program was mentioned as well.
Clauses
The EC presented a draft to extend the agreement that liberalizes EU–Ukraine trade for another year, through June 2025. The commissioner signaled reluctance to view the extension as automatic and noted that discussions led to the inclusion of important safeguards. One clause would allow a Member State to request an export suspension if shipments from Ukraine become excessively large.
A separate clause concerns sensitive products. Three categories—poultry meat, eggs, and sugar—saw sharp increases in imports and now have quota limits. The reference period for calculating these quotas is a point of contention; the working assumption is that it would run from June 2021 to the end of 2023, subject to final agreement.
Citation: wPolityce. Additional commentary has framed these developments as part of a broader strategy to stabilize agricultural markets while ensuring continued support for farmers.