Pains in the EU Green Deal

The EU aims to become the first climate-neutral continent in 2050 with the European Green Deal (EGD) announced in December 2019. It is a fact that a new strategy will be adopted to achieve this and all policies will be reshaped in line with climate change. The Green Deal, which envisages fundamental changes in EU policies in several areas ranging from agriculture to industry, from energy to transportation, is one of the EU’s biggest initiatives.

There are many reasons for the EU to take the necessary measures against the climate crisis. For example, in the summer of 2022, some countries experienced the worst drought in the last 500 years; up to 30% yield loss in products such as corn and soybeans; yield losses due to extreme heat during the flowering period and dry periods in southeastern countries; a huge increase in electricity, water, and other production inputs, and even increases in prices of some of the inputs exceeding 300%…

The “Adaptation to 55” legislative amendment package was published by the European Commission on July 14, 2021, to review EU climate, energy, land use, transportation and taxation policies to ensure a 55% emission reduction by 2030 compared to the 1990 level.

Just last year, Europe made a series of decisions on behalf of organic nutrition, to be implemented in the coming years. Of course, these decisions also included targets such as eliminating CO2 emissions and improving energy efficiency. These decisions: reducing the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030, reducing the use of fertilizers by at least 20% by 2030, 25% in organic agriculture areas by 2030 and a certain increase in organic aquaculture, etc.

However, with the impact of the climate crisis and war, Poland, Spain, and Hungary took action to change the “Farm to Fork” regulations. Although food safety in the EU is not under direct threat, it is a fact that the European Union is undoubtedly going through a complex period. The ongoing effects of COVID-19, price shocks in the world food, energy and fertilizer markets, as well as the current geopolitical situation that has led to shortages of some raw materials, cannot be denied. In addition to high inflation, the Covid-19 crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war had a negative impact on the EU. In the last 2 years, around 7 million refugees took refuge in European countries. Due to the economic sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia and the decline in industrial production capacity resulting from the interruption of natural gas flow, the negative economic effects increased further and economic stagnation began.

Within the framework of the green agreement, the ecological transition of EU member states, reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, developing organic agriculture and protecting biodiversity have brought new burdens to farmers. On the other hand, with bilateral trade agreements, the increase in the import of cheap agricultural products from countries producing outside EU standards caused the anger of EU farmers, while farmers in France literally invaded Paris, claiming that “farmer suicide is increasing due to bankruptcy and difficulties.” The head of the farmers’ organization said: “WHO WILL HELP THE FARMERS IN THE TIME OF NEED? We have not received any help in this mess so far. That’s why we demand help that goes directly into the pockets of the farmers, we should not play with the food.”

Among the main reasons for the protests are climate regulations and the Green Deal. Changes in climate-related agricultural policies against producers, water restrictions, efforts to remove or reduce subsidies, and grain imported from Ukraine are other reasons.

Apparently, the main culprits of global warming, climate change, and carbon emissions are the global colonial order, the WEST, that is, global capital, and the irresponsible industrialization they cause, while experiencing a consumption explosion, and trying to make farmers pay the price for this is a mistake.

Another objection of farmers was the legal regulations regarding new gene techniques. Farmer organizations wanted gene editing, which had just come into play in plant breeding, to be valued in the same category as GMO legislation. Interestingly, on February 7, 2024, the European Parliament accepted the Commission proposal on new gene techniques by 307 votes to 263 (41 abstentions). The positive vote was in line with the application of new gene techniques that enable the breeding of new plant varieties that are climate-resistant, resistant to pests, have higher yields and require less fertilizer and pesticides, by fulfilling certain conditions (excluding GMOs).

The Green Deal is very important for many countries like Türkiye. This is not only about the EU being its agricultural product market but also about the expectation of paralleling world standards in all our lives, from economy to social life. Therefore, it is inevitable for the agreement in the EU to be well explained to the public with its background.

It can be expected that the rebellion of European farmers will bring about time delays in the implementation of the green deal. For example, unconfirmed newspaper reports that the French agriculture minister may extend restrictions on fertilizer use beyond 2030…

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