Plenary focus - December

We should use this opportunity to put the spotlight firmly on the core issue. The fundamental reason for volatility in agricultural markets is the globalisation of our food supply, allowing speculation on world commodity markets to dictate prices to the detriment of primary producers. Using the CAP to mask this ignores reality - and it’s not in the best interest of farmers.

The Commission’s unambitious proposals lack real foresight and are not green enough. They leave room for biofuels that are destroying our soil and food sovereignty, and fail to account for more advanced biofuels free of harmful components like palm oil. Europeans expect a very specific plan for how to reduce energy poverty and the Commission has disappointed them.

After two years of hard work, what began as an attempt to remove inconsistencies, redundancies and overlapping rules in the general revision of the Rules of Procedures will now be used by the ‘grand coalition’ to restrict the scope of the smaller groups and individual members. To simply wave this ‘project’ without any debate through the plenary demonstrates the arrogance of this coalition which now also includes, for the first time, the ENF.