European Commission asking for your opinion on "Food waste – reduction targets"

The European Commission is carrying out an impact assessment in preparation for the revision of the Waste Framework Directive (https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-framework-directive_en).
The objectives of the revision are to limit waste generation, increase re-use, and increase cost-efficient preparing for re-use and quality recycling, including for waste oils and textiles. The revision will explore opportunities for simplification to make legislation clearer and reduce burden on citizens and businesses. As part of this impact assessment, the Commission will also examine policy options related to the setting of EU-level targets for food waste reduction. The EU Farm to Fork Strategy calls for the establishment of such targets.
In this context, the Commission is carrying out a public consultation to collect additional evidence on existing performance; seek opinions and insights about the problem, the feasibility and possible impacts (economic, social and environmental) of alternative actions (including what are possible actions); gather examples of best practices and views on the subsidiarity of possible actions.You answer this call till 16th August.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13223-Food-waste-reduction-targets/public-consultation_en

The EU Pollinators Initiative will be revised and there is currently an open public consultation until 9 June.

DG ENV is worried that a low response by NGOs, combined with a strong 'negative' response from certain sectors would not give them the mandate they need to negotiate with other DGs on the much needed strengthening of the initiative. Therefore, we need a strong NGO and citizen participation in the consultation.

The European Habitats Forum has developed a guidance with suggested answers to the consultation, that you can use to formulate your answers with the support of Orsoly Nyárai Poilcy expert of CEEweb for Biodiversity. With this guidance, replying to the questionnaire is really easy and quick. There are also some prepared social media messages that you can use to promote the public consultation to your audiences.
Potential contribution:

Reply to the consultation, by 9 June.

Ask your network organisations to do the same, so that we can have a significant amount of organisations to reply to the questionnaire.

Use the social media pack to promote the consultation to a wider public, so that also interested citizens will reply.

Reply yourself as a citizen / encourage your colleagues/families/friends/neighbours/etc to do so as well.

Link to the public consultation page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13142-EU-pollinators-initiative-revision/public-consultation

Link to the proposed answers to the public consultation: https://bit.ly/3sOQowh
Link to the social media messages: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1piiNtrhGLR9Pt-f-WpYiRQjE1hLG1RAB634cx12X90U/edit

The EC is opened a call for opinions on the Circular Economy Monitoring Framework. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13465-Circular-economy-monitoring-framework-Revision_en

Though agroecology is not even mentioned in the framework. People who concider agroforestry and mixed farming are important in circular economy, might provide evidence to show that there is a huge difference in sustainability of AF/MF and any old "biobased" production (e.g. plantation forestry, biofuel crop cultivation); and that "renewable" does not automatically mean sustainable or even circular. These variability of impacts should be reflected in financing decisions.
Another area where Agromix might be involved is the socio-economic aspect of the framework, you can find some example here: https://www.ressourcenwende.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Shaping-Bioeconomy-Strategies-final.pdf

Insights by Mari Arold PhD student of University of Oxford and intern of CEEweb for Biodiversity:

Overview of the review
See a summary of the Circular Economy monitoring framework revision process:https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13465-Circular-economy-monitoring-framework-revision-_en

Two objectives for the revision:
1) New indicators will consider the focus areas in the action plan and of the links between circularity, climate neutrality and the EU's zero pollution ambition. These indicators will rely on European statistics as much as possible.

2) Indicators on resource use will be further developed and linked to monitoring and assessing progress towards decoupling economic growth from resource use and its impact in the EU and beyond. These indicators will include consumption and material footprints – these will account for material consumption and the environmental impact associated to our production and consumption patterns.
Current circular economy indicators
• Production and consumption
• Waste management
• Secondary raw materials
• Competitiveness and innovation
See further breakdown of the indicators: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/circular-economy/indicators/main-tables?p_p_id=NavTreeportletprod_WAR_NavTreeportletprod_INSTANCE_ad1aKDzLrUg9&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view
What to consider re new and old indicators
• Social impacts that go beyond economic growth and job creation
• Spill-over effects of “renewable” fossil substitution products (e.g. biofuel, bioenergy and bio-based packaging) (See Bellagio Declaration Circular Economy Monitoring Principles: The transition towards a Circular Economy is thus a process that touches upon all aspects of the economy – both ones internalized directly via prices in the economy, and those that are seen as externalities. As such any monitoring of progress needs to encompass the entire economy, its processes, and its impacts on the surroundings, be that people or nature, here and elsewhere. https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/measuring-circular-economy/monitoring-progress-europes-circular-economy-bellagio-process)
o Land-use change
o Ecosystem integrity
o Pollution
o Human health and wellness
o Etc.
• Changes in the resource use, e.g.
o Forests’ non-timber resources (economic, ecological and social)
o Competing uses of food crops (human food, animal feed, bioenergy and -plastics)
• Integration and hierarchy of indicators?
o E.g. waste hierarchy, as outlined in the Waste Framework Directive, whereby prevention of waste should always be the preferred option to recycling and biodegradation (e.g. bioplastics, paper packaging).
o
• De-coupling of waste generation from growth, as stated in CEAP

The Polish Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on the adoption of the draft Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy for 2023–2027, submitted by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. The resolution will enable the commencement of negotiations with the European Commission on the draft Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy for the years 2023–2027. This document will be the basis for Poland's application for funding from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The support will be targeted at a wide group of recipients (mainly farmers, but also entrepreneurs and local government units), and will provide potential beneficiaries with equal access to aid. The budget of the Strategic Plan is over EUR 25 billion. In the First Pillar, agroforestry and mixed production will be supported by Ecoschemes: "Maintenance of mid-field shelterbelts" and "Maintenance of agroforestry systems". At the same time, animal production will be supported in the case of cattle, sheep, and goats, extensive use of pastures, and beekeeping production. In the Second Pillar, support will cover "Preservation of orchards of traditional fruit trees" and "Afforestation and care bonuses". The draft strategic plan has been submitted to the European Commission and is under evaluation.

Nagy István Minister for Agriculture launched the new Hungarian Common Agricultural Policy Strategy (2023-2027) for public consultation, the strategy was formulated in the last 2 years by the Ministry, its background institutions and stakeholder associations of agriculture.

The new Strategy highlights the importance of agroecology-based developments and urge the practical implementation of holistic approach and nature-based solutions in agriculture and rural development.

 

The public consultation has been opened in 10th December: https://fataj.hu/2021/12/elkeszult-a-kozos-agrarpolitika-strategiai-terv/

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