NAT Work Programme 2015-2018 - December 2017

European Economic and Social Committee

Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment

UpdatedNAT work programme 2015-2018

(December2017)

There are tworecent developments that need to be taken into consideration when fixing the NAT priorities:

1. The silo approach in the opinion-making and evaluation-making process is,in the EESC,slowly becoming "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,therefore,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. Other possible areas for cross-sectional work could be:

balanced territorial development - with ECO,

big retail's dominant position in the agri-food supply chain - with INT,

unfair competition from imports(or food standards as bargaining chip in trade negotiations) and promotion of EU agricultural exports - with REX,

tourism – with SOC, ECO, REX and INT,

precision agriculture/digital farming – with INT,

revitalisation of rural areas (social aspects) – with SOC,

converting agricultural/forest biomass to energy – with CCMI.

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 UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SD)adopted on 27 September 2015.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.

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.

Overarching objective: Contributing to the implementation of the SDGs through more cross-sectionalwork

The overarching objective of the NAT section is 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 through the work of the SDO, but as this is a cross-cutting theme for 2018, there will be close cooperation with all the Committee's sections/CCMI. This cross-cutting approach reflects the fact that sustainable development is equally about people, planet and prosperity.The SDGs include objectives to end poverty, ensure healthy lives, create inclusive education and support gender equality as well as to protect natural resources.

The EESC will continue calling on the other EU Institutions so that they, as a matter of urgency, focus on integrating the SDGs fully into the European policy framework and current Commission priorities with the objective of setting out a vision for a fair and competitive Europe to the year 2030. The new EU strategy must include specific targets for SDG implementation, review and monitoring mechanisms, as well as action plans with the necessary legislative and policy instruments, awareness-raising and engagement activities and a plan for mobilising financial resources. The EESC welcomes the planned Commission's initiative in its 2018 work plan on Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030, on the follow-up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including on the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

On 22 May 2017, the European Commission adopted a decision on setting up the high-level Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the EU. The Committee will work with the Platform's 30 nominated Representatives 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, -integration and -implementation.

Possible measures: Activities communicating the UN 2030Agenda to all sections and other EESC bodies through outreach activities of the SDO president and the activities of SDO members in EESC sections will be continued; Activities to promote a better integration of SDGs in the sections/CCMI annual work programmes.

Members who have been nominated to the Multi-Stakeholder Platform for SDGs will be supported by the SDO with information reports, research and relevant activities to support a substantial and meaningful contribution to the Platform; SDO meetings can be utilised to showcase the evolution of the body of work that will arise from the MSP. The first meeting of the Platform is likely to be held in the first half of 2018.

With the own-initiative opinion SC/047, which was jointly initiated by the boards of the SDO and the Europe 2020 SC, the EESC has provided a perspective for long-term transition processes towards a new economic model and a Sustainable Europe 2030/2050. The advice and outcomes of this work will be further promoted in EESC activities, including by the members who will work with the MSP. Based on the integration of the social dimension of sustainable development, cooperation with external organisations in this sector, such as ETUC, Solidar, the World Future Council and the European Youth Forum will be strengthened.

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

The main NAT sectionthematic priorities contributing to the 2030 Agenda are:

1.The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

CAP simplificationwas 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.In 2016, the section started preparing for the next revision of the CAP after 2020. The section took a proactive approach and prepared two opinions on the content of the future CAP in 2016 and 2017. The new context created by Brexit must be taken into due consideration in the future debates on the next CAP. The promotion of sustainable agricultural production should also be seen in the context of a more comprehensive food policy (see below).

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.

The EU is the largest partner in international trade of agricultural products. Developments in the EU trade policy, in particular following multilateral or bilateral trade negotiations, have an impact on EU agriculture which the NAT Section needs to follow and assess. For instance, EU's trade agreements with Canada and Mercosur will have an adverse impact on the beef and pig meat sectors in Europe.

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 and after Brexit;apublic hearingor some equivalent initiative about the pros and cons to postpone the CAP post-2020 for a few years; continued work on upcoming EC proposals for a next CAP(Communication on possible options expected in November 2017; legislative proposal for a CAP post-2020 might be presented bymid-2018, in conjunction with the proposal on the next MFF);integration of concerns and possible solutions about sustainable agricultural production and sustainable food policies in any new initiative on the CAP; follow-up of opinion NAT/713 on land use for sustainable production;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).

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 (including rural mountainous and remote areas), which should help to reverse the urbanisation process in Europe. In order to retain young people in rural areas, farmers and other business entrepreneurs need incentives and opportunities.The NAT sectioncould 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 could 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.Member States and regions need to demonstrate that they deliver on rural proofing.

Possible measures: contribute to policy formulation 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 could/will be implemented in practice;promote the own-initiative opinion on Villages and small towns as catalysts for rural development – challenges and opportunities and its most emblematic recommendation to establish a European celebration day of Villages and Small Towns; involve the rapporteurs of RD-related own-initiative opinions in effective follow-up and communication measures, including participation in the ENRD's thematic working group on Smart Villages; co-organise an event in Brussels in 2018 with the European Rural Parliament; contribute through an activity (opinion, event or celebration) to the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018.

3.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 thefood policy in a more holistic manner, in particular to reflect the objectives of the UN 2030 SD Agenda.

3.1Contributing tothedevelopment of a comprehensive food policy

The PSG will facilitate and promote cross-sectoral dialogue on the need for an EU comprehensive food policy - one that ensures better coherence and integration of food-related policy objectives and instruments in a sustainability perspective.In particular, the NAT section will promote the implementation of food-related SDGs at EU level, possibly via a specific Action Plan. Agricultural and food systems research also have a key role to play to promote food sustainability. Finally, thesection will also continue the ongoing cooperation with the FAO and its Committee on World Food Securityin the context of the UN Decade on Nutrition. The importance of education and training throughout the food supply chain will be stressed and close coordination with SDO, INT, REX and SOC will be ensured.

Possible measures: promotion of the NAT/711 opinion onCivil society's contribution to a comprehensive EU food policy, participation in the 2018 EU Food and Farming Forum organised by IPES Food to co-construct a set of policy proposals for a European food policy in the run-up to the 2019 EU parliamentary elections, own-initiative or exploratory opinion on Promoting healthier and sustainable diets in the UN decade on nutrition.

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. 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. This unequal relationship in the food supply chain should be tackled, and specific EU legislation to stop unfair trading practices should be adopted. The potential of alternative business models, such as cooperatives, should be tapped in.

Possible measures: follow-up to EESC opinion NAT/680 on Promoting a fairer agro-food supply chain, provide input to EC related initiatives, e.g. the planned proposal on the EU 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 losses and waste - working towards the achievement of SDG target 12.3 to halve food waste by 2030. The synergies between food sustainability and the circular economy will also be further explored, in particularwith the NAT section's participation in the EU Platform on food Losses and Waste. The NAT section will continue to support the EMAS in-house initiatives to promote sustainable and healthy food and reduce food waste, including via food donation.

Possible measures: active participation in the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, further activities in collaboration with EMAS to raise members' awarenessand engagement on food waste reduction/food 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,or the accelerating loss of biodiversity, show the need to boost EU efforts. The net consequence is the ecosystem'sreducing capacity to deliver essential services, with large and measurableimpactson the economy and society as a whole.

Possible measures: continue exercising pressure on the Commission to force more tangible results in this area, using the yet to be adopted opinion NAT/717 – Action Plan for nature, people and the economy or possibly by referrals or own-initiative opinions on promoting civil society awareness of the link between environmental protection and the resulting societal gains. The EESC mayprepare an own-initiative reportto highlightand give visibility to the costs of inaction, the costs of the EU not meetingthe goalsof the 7thEnvironment Action Programme.

Respond to referrals based on new Commission proposals foreseen for late 2017 or in the first semester of 2018 such as a regulation on Waste Water and a revision of the drinking water directive.

5.Climate Change

The NAT section will pay particular attention to civil society involvement in the implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change reached at COP21, building coalitions with stakeholders, mainstreaming climate considerations into all EU policies andpromotingthe transition towards a low carbon economy. The NAT section will continue placing a great emphasis on making practical recommendations for this transition to occur in a way that does not excessively penalise certain groups of workers or citizens (i.e. just transition).

Based on the opinion onNAT/684 (Rapporteurs: Ribbe/Caño Aguilar), it will continue working within the International Climate GovernanceCoalition (ICGC) together withCoR, OECD and Comité21. 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.

In addition, the NAT section will continue promoting a creation of an enabling framework for the citizen and community-led climate initiatives through an exploratory opinion requested by the Commission's DG CLIMA. In addition to the opinion and the continued work in the ICGC, the EESC will publish a study on Toolbox for multi-stakeholder climate partnerships - A policy framework to stimulate bottom-up climate actions and will continue promoting findings of those parallel activities at various international fora and gatherings of climate actors.

Possible measures: Exploratory opinion Boosting climate actions by non-state actors: An EU framework for encouraging more and better actions, requested by the Commission's DG CLIMA to be adopted in March 2018.

Activities of the International Climate GovernanceCoalition throughout 2018.

Participation in the UNFCCC COP24 and organisation of side events. The focus of the COP24 on SDG 8&9 Decent work and economic growth & Industry, innovation and infrastructure can provide a basis for providing a contribution on these crucial issues to the international partners at the COP24.