Doiciméid - Think Tank - Parlaimint na hEorpa

Sracfhéachaint - Extension of EU trade benefits to Ukraine - 16-04-2024

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT

During its April II plenary session, �Ϸ��վ is expected to vote on the extension for an additional year of the autonomous trade measures (ATM) that liberalised Ukrainian exports to the EU, to support Ukraine's economy. The proposal includes reinforced safeguards to protect EU farmers in case of market disruption.

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Briefing - Ukrainian agriculture: From Russian invasion to EU integration - 15-04-2024

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Ukraine enjoys excellent conditions for agriculture, including around a third of the world's most fertile land. Three crops dominate the country's agricultural production: wheat, maize and sunflower, intended primarily for export. Medium-sized agricultural enterprises lead crop production, although some companies farm as much as 500 000 hectares. This is a direct consequence of Soviet collectivisation, and the agricultural policies adopted after Ukraine's independence in 1991. Only recently did Ukraine start opening up its land market. In 2013, Russia blocked Ukrainian exports to prevent Kyiv from developing closer ties with the EU. Following Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea and its military aggression in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv signed an association agreement with the EU, which became its primary market. Unlike most of its industrial production, Ukraine's crops remained competitive in the EU market and exports surged. By 2021, agriculture represented 41 % of Ukraine's exports, up from 27 % in 2013. In addition to stealing millions of hectares of land, Russia has inflicted a terrible economic, environmental and human cost on Ukraine. By the end of 2023, the Ukrainian agricultural sector had sustained an estimated US$80 billion in damages and losses. Rebuilding Ukraine's agriculture is expected to cost US$56.1 billion, and demining will cost an additional US$32 billion. Russia also blockaded Ukrainian agricultural exports. The EU Solidarity Lanes, the Black Sea Initiative, and the more recent Ukrainian Corridor have helped to keep Ukraine's economy afloat, and avert a wider global food security crisis. Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion. In December 2023, the European Council authorised the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine. Historically, agriculture has been a contentious issue in most enlargement negotiations, and integrating Ukraine's sizeable agricultural sector poses a challenge to the EU, especially without prior reform of the common agricultural policy. Despite the early stage of Kyiv's candidacy, some studies have tried to estimate the potential cost and benefits to the EU of Ukraine's eventual membership of the bloc.

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Grinnanailís - Examples of �Ϸ��վ's impact: 2019 to 2024 - Illustrating the powers of the European �Ϸ��վ - 13-03-2024

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT

As the European Union's only directly elected institution, the European �Ϸ��վ stands at the heart of European representative democracy, the foundation upon which the EU is built. Since its creation, the �Ϸ��վ's powers have evolved significantly, and it is now a fully fledged legislative body and forum for discussion and engagement, whose influence is felt in virtually all areas of EU activity. This paper offers an overview of the European �Ϸ��վ's main powers, demonstrating how they interact, and illustrating through practical examples from the ninth parliamentary term (2019-2024) the various ways in which �Ϸ��վ uses those powers in its daily work.

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Staidéar - Future Shocks 2023: Anticipating and weathering the next storms - 20-07-2023

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 22:00:00 GMT

�Ϸ��վ started monitoring future shocks during the coronavirus crisis, and has continued to do so during Russia's unprecedented war on Ukraine. The annual 'Future Shocks' series reviews global risks, with a focus on specific risks and the capabilities and resilience of the EU system in the face of multiple challenges. It seeks to provide up-to-date, objective and authoritative information on these risks, based on risk literature from a broad range of sources. 'Future Shocks' includes, but is not limited to, areas where the EU has primary competence, and identifies the benefits of concerted action by the EU as well as the ability of its institutions and Member States to find new and effective solutions to deal with major shocks. The 2023 edition, the second in this annual series, highlights 15 risks related to geopolitics, climate change, health, economics and democracy that could occur in the coming decade, and 10 policy responses to address existing governance capacity and possible ways to enhance capabilities within the EU. Among the options set out are those previously included in European �Ϸ��վ resolutions, positions from other EU institutions, and policy papers from think tanks and stakeholders.

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Briefing - EU protein strategy - 19-07-2023

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 22:00:00 GMT

The EU is largely self-sufficient in agricultural products, thanks to its common agricultural policy (CAP). However, the EU livestock sector is critically dependent on imports of plant-based proteins for animal feed, especially soybeans, from Argentina, Brazil and the United States (US). The links between protein imports and deforestation, on the one hand, and the substantial greenhouse emissions (GHG) from animal farming, on the other, are also lending greater prominence to the use of plant-based proteins in human nutrition. The European Union (EU) has long aimed to reduce its protein import dependency, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the need to shield EU agriculture from price volatility and trade disruptions. At their informal meeting in Versailles of March 2022, EU leaders identified 'increasing the EU production of plant-based proteins' as a means to improve the EU's food security and reduce food prices. Further to this high-level political declaration, the European Commission is expected to review its protein policy in the first quarter of 2024, reviving hopes for a comprehensive EU protein strategy. Some of the proposals being considered to close the EU's protein gap include encouraging the domestic production of protein-rich crops, which have received substantial support in the CAP national strategic plans for the 2023-2027 period. Diversifying the available protein sources for food and feed is another way of reducing the EU's deficit. These sources include microbial, insect and seaweed proteins. Finally, greater efficiency and circularity in the way food is produced and consumed would also contribute to the EU's protein self-sufficiency and to mitigating the environmental footprint of its agri-food sector. �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) has prepared a draft report on a European protein strategy (rapporteur: Emma Wiesner (Renew, Sweden). Some 716 amendments to the draft report have been submitted ahead of the vote in the AGRI committee.

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Briefing - Sustainable food systems - Pre-legislative synthesis of national, regional and local positions on the European Commission's initiative - 05-07-2023

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 22:00:00 GMT

This briefing provides a pre-legislative synthesis of the positions of national, regional and local governmental organisations on the European Commission's forthcoming proposal on sustainable food systems. It forms part of an EPRS series offering a summary of the pre-legislative state of play and advance consultation on a range of key European Commission priorities during its 5-year term in office. It seeks to present the current state of affairs, examine how existing policy is working on the ground, and identify best practice and ideas for the future, from governmental organisations at all levels of the European system of multilevel governance. EPRS analysis of the positions of partner organisations at European Union (EU), national, regional and local levels suggests that they would like the following main considerations to be reflected in the discussion of the forthcoming proposal on sustainable food systems. * Sustainability is being prioritised in many governmental policies. There are a number of national, regional and local policies and strategies making the connection between the environment and food and food production. * Measures are being put into place to boost the economic potential of food-related sectors and to contribute to regional development. Local and regional food systems can enhance the economic potential of EU regions. Investment in research and innovation in food-related industries is vital for the future of sustainable food systems. * Food has an important social and health dimension. An increasing number of measures are being taken to provide healthier food for wider sections of the population and to improve the working conditions of people working in food-related industries. * The COVID-19 epidemic, the war in Ukraine and fears of climate change are highlighting the issue of food security. Food also has an important geopolitical dimension. Food quality and food safety are issues of increasing concern. * The EU plays an important role when it comes to generating policies related to food systems. A number of EU funds covering food activities also contribute significantly to agriculture, rural and regional development. More financial support is necessary to tackle numerous challenges. * National, local and regional governments are active in creating sustainable food systems and aspire to do more in this area. Regional and local governments have considerable expertise and knowledge to offer in developing sustainable food systems.

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Briefing - Recreational use of cannabis: Laws and policies in selected EU Member States - 20-06-2023

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit drug (referred to as drug in this briefing) in the European Union (EU), where its distribution, cultivation, possession and use (consumption) are largely prohibited. The prohibition of drug-related activities other than those performed for medical or scientific purposes is the defining feature of the international drug control system. Set up by the United Nations (UN), this system is composed of three complementary conventions, to which all EU Member States are parties. Various countries around the world have made use of the flexibility of the UN system, not applying criminal penalties in some cases (e.g. for possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use) or replacing them with administrative ones. The UN bodies monitoring compliance with the conventions seem to have come to accept these policy choices. However, they remain resistant to the still rare yet increasingly common practice of legalising the recreational use of cannabis, which may entail regulating drug distribution and sale in a manner akin to that for alcohol and tobacco. In the EU, drug policy has remained primarily the Member States' preserve. The EU has fostered the Member States' cooperation on law enforcement and health-related issues, while at the same time respecting their diverse philosophies on how to address recreational drug use. National approaches range from very restrictive policies that prioritise criminal law responses, to more liberal ones that focus primarily on reducing the health and social harms resulting from drug use. In 2021, Malta became the first Member State to legalise recreational cannabis, and since then several others have taken steps that could potentially lead to similar drug policy reforms. The following EPRS policy analysts contributed to the country analyses in this briefing: Antonio Albaladejo Roman (Spain), David De Groot (Germany), Micaela Del Monte (Luxembourg), Verena Kern (Austria), Silvia Kotanidis (Italy), Marie Lecerf (France), Gabija Leclerc (Lithuania), Katrien Luyten (Belgium), Ingeborg Odink (the Netherlands), Anita Orav (Estonia), Marketa Pape (Czechia), Martina Prpic (Croatia) and Rosamund Shreeves (Malta).

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Sracfhéachaint - Ensuring food security and long-term resilience of EU agriculture - 07-06-2023

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:00:00 GMT

During its June plenary session, �Ϸ��վ is due to debate the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) on Ensuring food security and the long-term resilience of EU agriculture. �Ϸ��վ is also to vote on policy recommendations to address global and EU food security and strengthen the EU's agricultural resilience.

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Sracfhéachaint - Food security in 2023: EU response to an evolving crisis - 01-03-2023

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Food insecurity remains one of the most pressing global challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have made the food crisis significantly worse in recent years, threatening millions of people worldwide. Despite some promising trends, food inflation remains consistently high, and it depends on a volatile environmental and geopolitical context. The EU has devoted substantial resources to tackling the immediate effects of the crisis. However, in the long run, the key to food security will be sustainable agri-food systems.

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Briefing - EU feed autonomy: Closing the gaps in European food security - 07-02-2023

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:00:00 GMT

People in the EU consume millions of tonnes of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products every year. Animal products, which many consider essential for a balanced and nutritious diet, account for more than a third of the EU's total agricultural output, and are an integral part of Europe's rich and diverse gastronomic culture. Meeting the high demand for nutritious and affordable products of animal origin is a key task of the EU's agricultural sector, which employs millions across all Member States. However, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and Russia's war on Ukraine mean that feeding Europe's livestock is becoming increasingly difficult. Thanks to the common agricultural policy, the EU is not facing a food availability crisis. Nevertheless, with feedstuffs already now the highest producer input, rising costs for farmers translate into higher prices for basic commodities such as meat, eggs and milk. Inflation rates for food – the highest after those for energy – reached 13.8 % in December 2022 and remain the main concern for EU citizens, particularly lower-income households. �Ϸ��վ has repeatedly called for the sources of animal feed to be diversified. EU leaders have expressed their commitment to ensuring the EU's food security and tackling rising food prices by reducing the EU's dependency on key imported agricultural products and inputs, in particular vegetal proteins for animal feed. The need for greater autonomy and diversification of animal feed sources, and the growing emphasis on the agricultural supply chains' sustainability and circularity, is encouraging innovation in animal nutrition. Boosting the EU's domestic production of feedstuffs, in particular of plant-based proteins, will increase the EU's competitiveness and resilience against future supply disruptions.

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Sracfhéachaint - Question time: Food price inflation in Europe - 13-01-2023

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Food prices in the EU have risen dramatically over the past two years. The chain of disruptions caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, extreme weather events and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have led to severe shortages in the agri-food chain, resulting in higher consumer prices. The latest European �Ϸ��վ Eurobarometer survey shows that the cost of living continues to be the main concern for European citizens. During the January I plenary session, Members of the European �Ϸ��վ will have the opportunity to question the European Commission on measures taken to contain food price inflation.

Foinse: © An tAontas Eorpach, 2023 - PE