10. workshop erfp uppsala, june 4, 2005

10. Workshop ERFP Uppsala, June 4, 2005

ERFP collaboration with EU-

Lobbying in Bruxelles

Hermann Schulte-Coerne

Activities

1. Council Regulation (EC) No 870/2004of 24 April 2004establishing a Community programme on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture

2. Draft for a Council Regulation on Support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Council Regulation 870/2004

• Came in force already 2004, however call has not yet been released,

• Call to be expected in July now!

• actions shall be mainly transnational and promote or complement, at Community level, work implemented at regional or national level

• Covers plant, microbial and animal GR

Council Regulation 870/2004Eligible actions

• targeted actions (50% by EU) • concerted actions (80%)• accompanying actions (80%)

Actions shall take into account:(a) other activities undertaken at Community level; (b) relevant international processes, developments and agreements, in particular as regards:- the Convention on Biological Diversity,- the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources, and- programmes implemented under international frameworks such as the European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks (ECP/GR), the European regional focal point (ERFP) of national coordinators for the management of farm animal genetic resources, European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (Euforgen) and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Council Regulation on Support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

• EAFRD regulation will regulate the EU-funded development of Rural Areas in the period of 2007 - 2013.

• It will follow the current regulation 1257/1999, which is the legal base for payments in agri-environmental programmes for keeping animals from endangered breeds

• Compared to Council Regulation 870/2004– Offers much more financial volume– Can be applied for measures at national level– Essential for national action plans


• First drafts did not go beyond regulation 1257/1999:

– Genetic resources not even mentioned – rather handled as a specific agri-environmental measure

– Restricted to payments for keeping animals of endangered breeds

– Payments only to farmers


• concerted intervention of many NCs made this issue to become a “political issue”.

• new draft outlines improvements regarding measures on conservation and sustainable utilisation of genetic resources: – Biodiversity now addressed as a key issue– conservation of genetic resources in agriculture is given

specific attention:Article 37 new paragraph 5 : "Support may be provided for the conservation of genetic resources in agriculture for operations not covered under paragraphs 1 to 4"

– Still combined under agri-environmental measures, however more flexible


• Next steps: – Council directive

• text has just passed EU-Parliament• commission has proposed a financial model (has been

controversial) • 20. June 2005: Agriculture Council

probably adoption – commission regulation

• to rule technical details, like thresholds for endangered breeds• existing first draft without details• next draft to be discussed in STAR-committee, probably end of june

• Proposal (vote of ERFP): – letter to COM highlighting importance of com regulation– offer ERFP to give advice on laying down details

Potential future activitiesfor ERFP

• Process of SoW-AnGR and SBSTA will raise more legal discussions, prominently on access and benefit sharing

• EC-Zootechnical legislation has some elements close this field:– State approval of breeding organisations– Rules for purebreeding through rules on registering

purebreds in herdbooks– Studbooks on the origin of breeds for equidae

Mandate (vote ERFP ?)– to start discussions on links between AnGR and

EC-zootechnical legislation


Article 37Agri-environment payments1. Member States shall make available support provided for in Article 34 (a)(iva) throughout their

territories, in accordance with their specific needs.2. Agri-environment payments shall be granted to farmers who make on a voluntary basis agri-

environmental commitments. Where duly justified to achieve environmental objectives, agri-environment payments may be granted to other land managers.

3. Agri-environment payments cover only those commitments going beyond the relevant mandatory standards established pursuant to Articles 4 and 5 and Annexes III and IV of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and other relevant mandatory requirements established by national legislation and identified in the programme. Additionally, farmers and other land managers undertaking agri-environment commitments shall respect minimum requirements for fertiliser and plant protection product use to be identified in the programme. These commitments shall be undertaken as a general rule for a period between five and seven years. Where necessary and justified, a longer period shall be determined according to the procedure referred to in Article 95(2) for particular types of commitments.

4. The payments shall be granted annually and shall cover additional costs and income foregone resulting from the commitment given; where necessary, they may cover also transaction cost. Where appropriate, the beneficiaries may be selected on the basis of calls for tender, applying criteria of economic and environmental efficiency. Support shall be limited to the maxima laid down in Annex I.

5. Support may be provided for the conservation of genetic resources in agriculture for operations not covered under paragraphs 1 to 4.


Annex IAMOUNTS AND RATES OF SUPPORT

For “Local breeds in danger of being lost to farming”

funded under Article 37(4)200 € per livestock unit

These amounts may be increased in exceptional cases taking account of specific circumstances to be justified in the rural development programmes.

10. workshop erfp uppsala, june 4, 2005

Documents