NAT Work Programme 2015-2018

European Economic and Social Committee

Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment

UpdatedNAT work programme 2015-2018

(October 2016)

Compared to the previous term of office, there are three recent developments that need to be taken into consideration when fixing the NAT priorities:

1. On 27 September 2015 the world community adopted the so-called UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SD). This agenda comprises a set of 17Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs – see appendix) which not only concern the NAT policy areas but also the work of the whole EESC.
2. The Better Regulation package which the European Commission adopted on 19May 2015 sets a much greater role for policy evaluation than beforehand. In its meeting on 15September 2015, the EESC Bureau decided to launch a new policy evaluation activity that should be essentially of a qualitative and ex-post nature to complement relevant EC and EP work.
3. The silo approach in the opinion-making and soon policy evaluation-making process must become "something from the past". Most of the topics of today are broad and apply to several – if not all – sections. The SDO and the NAT Section should foster and diffuse new approaches to facilitate "crowdworking" throughout the entire EESC. More cooperation with the Europe 2020 Strategy Steering Committee is also needed, notably to implement the 2030 UN Agenda for sustainable development.

Overarching objective: Upgrading NAT legislative work

As a consequence of the above, the NAT Section should aim at reforming its working methods to accommodate more diverse viewpoints than the ones represented in its constituency. It will facilitate the creation of informal groups of Members sharing information and ideas about specific subjects on the NAT work programme. The methods for collecting views from members outside the study groups should be flexible and encourage active contributions during all stages of the development of opinions.This is of crucial importance in addressing the intertwined priority objectives that are relevant to the 2030 UN SD Agenda. Furthermore both NAT opinions and policy evaluations will have to be built on more substantial and meaningful interactions with civil society. NAT Section members should be encouraged to act as EESC ambassadors to their national SCO and theirnetwork.

Even though the core business of the NAT Section is to give opinions on legislative and non-legislative proposals, there is room for defining additional priorities that are complementary or add value to the ongoing EU policy work. The approval of upcoming own-initiative opinions and policy evaluations will have to abide by strict quality and relevance criteria

This work programme integrates the priorities of the SDO and Permanent Study Group(PSG) on Sustainable Food Systems[1]work programmes.

The main NAT Section priorities are:

1.The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

In 2016, the Section startedpreparing for the next revision or reform of the CAP after 2020. The Section took a proactive approach as regards the preparation of the future CAP and became involved in policy developmentformulation from early on.CAP simplification is the subject of anexploratory opinion requestedby the European Commission in September 2015.A year later, as part of the review package of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) the European Commission published a series of measures aimed at simplifying the CAP.Before the expiry of the milk package provisions in 2020, the Commission has to present a report to the EP and the Council before the end of 2018 on the development of the dairy market situation. The EESC would expect the report to examine how a simplified and clearer control system could be achieved.

Possible measures: assessment of the basic factors driving the evolution of the CAP post-2020, also looking at the budget for CAPwithin the next MFF;public hearing about the CAP post-2020; continued work on upcoming EC proposals for a next CAP(Communication or White Paper on possible options expected in summer 2017; legislative proposal for a CAP post-2020 might be presented only after 2017, in conjunction with the proposal on the next MFF);appropriate follow-up measures to previous work on the dairy sector in the context of the upcoming report on the functioning of the milk market and/or activity on the general functioning of agricultural markets and the farmers' position in the food supply chain (e.g. hearing, work on policy and legislative initiatives); joint event co-organised with the European Confederation of Young Farmers.

1.1Agricultural trade

The NAT Section will continue its careful examination of the agricultural chapter of trade agreements negotiated by the EU and their impact on EU producers and consumers, paying special attention to food safety aspects (SPS).Agriculture has proved to be a major stumbling block in trade negotiations. Looking further at the role of agriculture in non-WTO negotiations would be an essential step. Failure at the multilateral level opens the way for regional agreements (Trans Pacific Partnership was already concluded, other major regional trade agreements are being negotiated – TTIP, EU-Japan, and RCEP among them).

Possible measures: promote opinion NAT/679 in the light of the top-priority status granted to agricultural trade by Commissioner Hogan.

1.2Sustainable agricultural production

A range of policy measures need to be implemented in a more integrated way, including through effective policies for sustainable agriculture, new soil management practices, water management, job creation in rural areas, provision of relevant, continual vocational training(CVET) support for smallholders, women and youth, secure land tenure, activation of high-quality food demand, high-quality food supply for trade etc. The promotion of sustainable agricultural production should also be seen in the context of a more comprehensive food policy (see below).

Possible measures: integration of concerns and possible solutions about sustainable agricultural production and sustainable food policies in any new initiative on the CAP; follow-up of EESC Opinion NAT/632 on land grabbing and family farming.

2.Balanced territorial development

The NAT Section should continue to pursue its active role in pleading for a more balanced development of all parts of the EU. The overall objective is to increase the attractiveness of rural areas, which should act as a brake against the accelerating urbanisation process in Europe. In order to retain young people in rural areas, farmers and other business entrepreneurs need incentives and opportunities.The NAT Section could indirectly contribute to the debate on immigration by looking at ways to mitigate the effects of the migration crisis through integration of refugees and asylum seekers in rural areas. Similarly, the NAT Section could indirectly contribute to ensuring that digital infrastructure of rural areas, including static and mobile broadband/data services, be considered as a precondition to any policy or action to boost growth and jobs at the EU level. Access to services of general interest and to vital infrastructures (transport, IT, etc.) is indeed a necessary pre-condition.New, diversified, labour-intensive economic activities like tourism are bound to match agriculture as a main source of revenue in rural areas. Rural tourism, which responds to totally different kinds of levers than city or high volume tourism, is essential to offer remote areas positive economic and social perspectives. The NAT Section could explore ways to promote sustainable or environmental tourism as a means to underpin the economic development of rural areas. Likewise, forestry and bio-economy are integral parts of the rural economies and societies. They both contribute significantly to a balanced territorial development of the rural areas and communities especially with micro and small businesses.

Possible measures: contribute to an eventual (and much called-for) white paper on rural territories, building on the momentum built up with the Cork+20 conference co-organised with the CoR on 9 November 2016; seize the opportunity presented by the evaluation report on the Rural Development Programmes 2007-2013, to start exploring with local and regional stakeholders how the new principle of rural proofing will be implemented in practice; in cooperation with ECO and the CoR, the NAT Section could organise a joint event to put pressure on national and regional authorities so that they allocate sufficient funding to rural areas; prepare own-initiative opinion on "Villages and small towns as catalysts for rural development – challenges and opportunities", accompanied by a photo exhibition and a hearing; co-organise in 2018 in Brussels an event with the European Rural Parliament; commission a study on migrants' and refugees' resettling in rural areas in the EU.

3.Food security and food sustainability

Concerned as it is about the environmental, economic and social impacts of food production and consumption, , the NAT Section (through its Permanent Study Group on Sustainable Food Systems) aims to tackle the issue of food sustainability in a more holistic manner and to reflect the objectives of the UN 2030 SD Agenda. In particular, the NAT Section will further promote the EESC call for a comprehensive food policy - one that ensures better coherence and integration of food-related policy objectives and instruments taking into account the three pillars of sustainability. Throughout its work, the Section will highlight the importance of creating - or re-creating - a culture that attributes the right value to food, recognising its nutritional, social, economic and environmental implications.

The importance of education and training (e.g. on how to improve food quality, ensure food safety and reduce food waste) throughout the food supply chain will also be stressed andclose coordination with SDO, INT, REX and SOC will be ensured.

3.1Contributing to the development of a comprehensive food policy

Promoting an inter-sectoral approach and serving as a forum for cooperation and mutual understanding among various stakeholders along the food chain, the PSG will facilitate and promote dialogue on the need for a comprehensive framework, particularly in the context of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems' (IPES Food) three-year participatory process "Towards a common food policy for the EU".

Possible measures: active involvement in the IPES-Food process, possible joint event with the Commission and the CoR on "Sustainable food", own-initiative or exploratory opinion on "Civil society's contribution to the development of a comprehensive food policy", own-initiative or exploratory opinion on "Promoting healthier and more sustainable diets".

3.2Promoting fairer agro-food supply chains

Food sustainability is enhanced if food supply chains operate efficiently. More sustainable food systems could be realised by encouraging fair and transparent relations between farmers, processors and retailers, and by promoting shorter food supply chains. The unequal relationship in the food supply chain should be tackled. In recent years, there has been a shift in bargaining power in the supply chain, often to the advantage of the retail sector and to the detriment of primary producers. The position of the most vulnerable actors, such as farmers, should therefore be addressed, in particular by ensuring that prices paid to farmers allow them to make a fair profit.In particular, specific EU legislation to stop unfair trading practices in the food supply chain should be adopted.

Possible measure: follow-up to EESC opinion NAT/680 on Promoting a fairer agro-food supply chain

3.3Preventing and reducing food waste

The NAT Section will continue its efforts to promote policies for the prevention and reduction of food waste at the retail and consumer levels as well as of food losses along production and supply chains - working towards the achievement of SDG target 12.3 to halve food waste by 2030. In particular, dissemination and exchange of best practices on food donation across EU Member States will remain a priority for action as a way to address food poverty and food waste.

Possible measures: active participation in the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, possible event in cooperation with the CoRand FAO to highlight the contribution of civil society and local/regional authorities on food waste, further activitiesto mobilise and engage civil society on food waste/donation

4.Re-setting environmental protection onthe EU political agenda

Functioning terrestrial and maritime ecosystems deliver essential services to human well-being and economic prosperity. However, the EU efforts to improve air, water and soil quality, limit loss of biodiversity, and limit unsustainable extraction of natural resources have proved to be insufficient. The unresolved problem of poor air quality in many EU urban conurbations shows the need to boost EU efforts. The net consequence is the ecosystem'sreducing capacity to deliver essential services, with measurableimpactson the economy and society as a whole.

Possible measures: continue exercising pressure on the Commission to force more concrete results in this area, possibly by referrals or own initiative opinions on the legislative actions under REACH and by promoting civil society awareness of the link between environmental protection and the resulting societal gains. Alternatively, the EESC maydrafta policy evaluation information report in order to highlightand give visibility to the costs of inaction, the costs of the EU not meetingthe goalsof the 7th Environment Action Programme.

deliver in January 2017, in cooperation with the Commission and the Committee of the Regions, an opinion on the mid-term evaluation of the LIFE programme, which will take place in June 2017

Respond to referrals based on new Commission proposals foreseen in the first semester of 2017 such as a regulation on Waste Water and possibly a revision of the drinking water directive.

5.Advancing the sustainable development policy

The overarching objectiveof the NAT Section will be to ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is implemented in Europe and to promote Sustainable Development as a key European policy driver and game changer. This will be done mainly through the work of the SDO, but in close cooperation with all the Committee's sections/CCMI. This cross-cutting approach reflects that sustainable development is equally about people, planet and prosperity and SDGs include objectives on ending poverty, ensuring healthy lives, inclusive education and gender equality as well as protecting natural resources.

Possible measures: Activities communicating the UN 2030 Agenda to all sections and other EESC bodies through outreach activities of SDO president and the activities of SDO members in EESC sectionswill be continued.

5.1A new EC initiative to a sustainable European future

This new initiative, as announced in the 2016 EC work program, aims to ensure Europe's economic growth and social and environmental sustainability beyond the 2020 timeframe, taking into account the Europe 2020 review and the internal and external implementation of the United Nation SDGs.

Possible measures: Building upon its contributionto the preparation of the Commission initiative "Next steps for a sustainable European future" with an exploratory opinion and two conferences, the SDO will have to assess the published Commission initiative and draw conclusions about further steps. Furthermore, with the own-initiative opinion SC/047, which has been jointly initiated by the boards of the SDO and the Europe 2020 SC, the EESC will provide a perspective for long-term transition processes towards a new economic model and a Sustainable Europe 2030/2050 in 2017.

5.2Participatory governance for Sustainable Development

The creation of a robust participatory governance mechanism for SDGs, as proposed in the NAT/663information report.In concrete terms, the Committee will aim to establish a European Sustainable Development Forum, as a platform involving a broad range of civil society organisations and stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of SDGs in the EU. This will also be an opportunity for the Committee to further develop its role as civil society mediator for better policy-making and -implementation.

Possible measures: Based on the proposal made in the exploratory opinion NAT/678 on the creation of a European Sustainable Development Forum (SDF) this Forum should be practically set up in partnership with the Commission and major stakeholder groups. It is envisaged to hold a first SDF meeting in the first half of 2017.

5.3Climate Change

The implementation of the outcome of the Paris summit on climate change (COP21) will be an important challenge and work priority for the coming years. As in the previous term the NAT Section will pay particular attention to civil society involvement in the implementation of the Paris agreement, to building coalitions with stakeholders, in particular the territorial authorities, to mainstreaming climate considerations into all EU policies andto promotingthe transition towards a low carbon economy based on inter aliarenewable energies and sustainable agriculture. Emphasis will also be placed on adaptingclimate change adaptation with particular focus on the land use sector(Land Use Change and Forestry or LULUCF) in view to the upcoming effort sharing decision.

In July 2016 the EESC adopted an opinion on Building a coalition of civil society and subnational authorities to deliver commitments of the Paris Agreement (Rapporteurs: Ribbe/Caño Aguilar, NAT/684). Moreover, this is the focus of the current climate-related work of the four co-pilots of the international Coalition on Multi-level and Multi-stakeholder Governance: EESC, CoR, OECD and Comité 21. This Coalition aims to facilitate dialogue and multi-stakeholder partnerships as means of accelerated, more efficient and inclusive implementation of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, it aims to define obstacles and problems encountered by non-state and sub-national actors and propose conditions for success. It will also reflect on the elements of a comprehensive framework that aligns non-state and governmental actions over the long term, helping to meet the objectives of low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The four partners organised a dedicated side event at MEDCOP Climate (Tangier, Morocco, 18-19 July) and officially launched the first Forum of the Coalition at the Climate Chance Summit (Nantes, France, 26-28 September).

In addition, on 5 October 2016, a participatory conference on "Designing the framework for bottom-up climate action" took place at the EESC, focusing on how to scale up local climate action. A lot of recommendations arose from this conference.