The president of Asaja Córdoba, Ignacio Fernández de Mesa, regretted that yesterday the Environment Council of the European Union approved the Nature Restoration Law (LRN) «dealing another severe blow to the primary sector turning our backs, once again, on farmers and ranchers”.
In his opinion, “this irresponsible decision demonstrates a complete disregard for economic sustainability of agriculture and food sovereignty.
He adds that the impossibility of applying reciprocity clauses to third countries demonstrates «the inconsistency of this law»; and the refusal to demand similar production standards from our international competitors “is a betrayal of the European agricultural sector, placing it in a very compromised economic situation.”
Furthermore, he considers that the approval of the LRN, without a clear budget, “is an act of negligence and it is unacceptable that legislation be approved without considering its financial implications.” After its approval, it remains unclear how the measures in this rule will be financed. Despite the warnings, the PAC may end up paying for this law, assuming an unaffordable additional burden both due to its insufficiency and inappropriateness..
The restoration of nature, which this provision seeks, threatens to turn agriculture and livestock into unprofitable activities in almost 40% of Spain’s surface, seriously affecting the rural economy and the sustainability of the sector. The inclusion of Red Natura 2000 areas for its application is a devastating blow for our farmers and ranchers.
The justification that national plans will implement the LRN “will only bring more confusion and distortions to the market. “This erodes one of the fundamental principles of the EU: the common market, where all farmers should have the same opportunities.”
Finally, the non-elimination of the non-deterioration clause «could lead to ridiculous and unfair situations for farmers and ranchers. “How are we expected to prosper and innovate if we cannot make basic improvements to our farms?” It would be prohibited, for example, to install a shed to protect livestock from wolf attacks, the agricultural organization emphasizes.
Fernández de Mesa concludes that “it is regrettable that the ideological politicians of radical environmentalism do not want to accept the results of the European elections that have turned their backs on them. “We citizens want other policies that really help agriculture to preserve the territory and make the shopping basket cheaper.”
From ASAJA, we will continue to fight to reduce the devastating impact of this law in Spain and “demand that the voice of farmers and policies are put in place that truly promote economic sustainabilityenvironmental and social of European agriculture.
