The chairman of the Presidential Council for Agriculture and Rural Areas, Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, informed PAP that the Council is starting work on a proposal to correct the Green Deal, which will be presented to the new European Commission.
The head of the Council said that on Tuesday the Council would start working on proposals for changes to the Green Deal. He noted that this is the initiative of President Andrzej Duda, who believes that Poland should carry out reforms, among others. in the EU agricultural policy, it should use its EU presidency, which will start in January 2025. Ardanowski also assessed that the new EC, which will be established after the elections to the European Parliament, may help push through the changes.
Another action was announced in Warsaw
He expressed hope that the revision of the Green Deal will be supported not only by Polish and EU agricultural organizations, but also by institutions that are outraged by issues related to construction, energy production and transport pushed by Brussels. “Now farmers have somewhat subsided their protests regarding work in the fields, but they announce that they will resume them on May 10 this year.” – said Ardanowski. He added that this day will include, among others: another action in Warsaw, but – as he pointed out – its form will be slightly changed so that it “will be less socially painful.”
The Agriculture and Rural Council is waiting for suggestions for changes to the Green Deal
He also informed that the Council is waiting for suggestions for changes to the Green Deal not only from experts and agricultural organizations who participate in Council meetings, but also from representatives of grassroots farmers’ protests from all over Poland. In his opinion, “the recent protests have activated a young generation of well-educated farmers, well versed in social media, who are starting to play an increasingly important role in the agricultural movement.” “That is why we care about their activity when working on proposals for replacements in the Green Deal,” he added.
When asked what, in his opinion, should be changed, he said that the issue of food security should certainly be more balanced.
“It cannot be that Brussels will limit agricultural production in member states on the grounds of climate protection, but will import food from countries where environmental standards do not apply and prohibited active substances are used,” Ardanowski said.
When asked about the Council’s work schedule, he pointed out that the collection of proposals for corrections to the Green Deal will start this week, and in April and May this year. are planned, among others: conferences and meetings with the participation of President Andrzej Duda. “Then the proposals will be forwarded to the government, which will submit them to the European Commission,” he said.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Council
The Council for Agriculture and Rural Areas is a consultative and advisory forum for the President of the Republic of Poland. Her tasks include, among others: supporting agriculture and rural areas, organizing thematic round tables, cooperation with government and local government institutions, and reviewing legal solutions in the field of agriculture and rural areas.
The European Green Deal is a package of political initiatives aimed at putting the EU on the path to ecological transformation and ultimately achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The Green Deal in agriculture includes, among others: restrictions on the use of pesticides, fertilizers and antimicrobials, as well as stimulating the development of organic agriculture, protecting and restoring ecosystems and increasing the biodiversity of natural resources.