5.8.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 301/57
10.
stresses that it is essential to support agricultural and forestry holdings through the green transition, especially smaller agricultural holdings which are located in strategic areas and which are active in safeguarding and protecting the landscape; 11. urges the Commission to lay down binding European production standards and reciprocity or mirror clauses for imports, like those imposed on EU producers; 12. calls on the Commission to increase the number of border checks and to enforce procedures such as cold treatment of imported products; 13. points out that the European Committee of the Regions has already given its views on the two strategies, in the opinions on Bio-diverse cities and regions beyond 2020 at the UN CBD COP 15 and in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (4) and From farm to fork — the local and regional dimension (5); 14.
stresses the key role played by local authorities in defining and managing certain procedures linked to certain kinds of aid, in particular aid linked to risk management in agriculture; 15. points out that regions, provinces and municipalities not only help draw up the national strategic plans provided for in Regulation (EU) 2021/2115; they are also recipients of rural development support and help establish the bottom-up approach provided for by the LEADER initiative; 16. notes that from 2014 to 2019, State aid granted in the agricultural sector at European level fell from EUR 7,6 billion to 6 billion, but then increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; 17. stresses that, during this period, agricultural and agri-food holdings and the forestry sector never ceased to produce, ensuring security of supply as required by Article 39 TFEU; 18.
stresses that the war between Russia and Ukraine has created instability on the commodity and food supply markets;
19.
highlights the role that the CAP should play in this regard, in terms of self-supply and guaranteeing food security;
20. points out that this supply was also made possible because holdings could receive aid defined as ad hoc by the Commission in response to the economic crisis caused by COVID-19; 21. notes, furthermore, that most of the State aid, with the exception of specific aid for the COVID crisis, was granted primarily under rural development plans and, in particular, for measures not included in the objectives of Annex I to the Treaty (agricultural products); 22.
notes the complex procedure for including State aid in the RDPs;
23. notes that, although Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 on EAFRD support for rural development and the Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014 to 2020 are very similar, the rural development measures are not always fully in line with State aid rules; 24. notes that the consultation launched by the Commission revealed that some aspects of current State aid rules have become obsolete; 25.
(4) (5)
stresses that ensuring a level playing field for all businesses in the European Union remains a key objective;
OJ C 440, 18.12.2020, p. 20.
OJ C 37, 2.2.2021, p. 22.