Résumé : This FOCUS ON lists the Agriculture and Rural Development Studies and Notes published by Policy Department B during 2012. The main achievement of this body of work has been contributing to the evidence base upon which MEPs have been able to take informed decisions as part of the ongoing negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Auteurs : Policy Department B - Structural and Cohesion Policies, DG IPOL, European Parliament

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : In the past decade, the demand for biofuels has steadily increased, at a global level and in the EU. The main biofuels currently on the market are “first-generation biofuels”, i.e. derived from agricultural feedstocks. The most widely used biofuels are by far biodiesel and bioethanol. Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils (such as rapeseed, sunflower seed and soybean oils) or animal fats. Bioethanol is obtained through the fermentation of sugars into alcohol, using for example sugar beet, maize or wheat. The so-called “second-generation biofuels” (i.e. originating from the processing of ligno-cellulosic feedstock such as straw and forest residues) are not yet well developed.

Auteurs : Guillaume RAGONNAUD with the support of Filipa AZEVEDO (Policy Department B, DG IPOL, EP)

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : The latest reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is due to be adopted before the end of 2013 and for the first time in its history the European Parliament (EP) has been negotiating the legislative proposals on an equal footing with the Council. Over 7 000 amendments have been tabled by MEPs, reflecting both the complexity of the task and the numerous choices the Parliament will have to make in the coming months. FOCUS ON provides the most recent research on the CAP, published by the EP's Policy Department B - Structural and Cohesion Policies.

Auteurs : Policy Department B - Structural and Cohesion Policies, European Parliament

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : There is much debate over whether the EU should extend sugar production quotas until 2020 or abandon them, as proposed by the European Commission, and move to a freer market in 2015. This note looks at the constraints on the policy makers and the options for the future of the EU sugar policy.

Auteurs : Joan NOBLE (Joan Noble Associates Ltd, United Kingdom)

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : The weak number of new entrants into farming in the EU-27 is determined by certain economic and social factors that characterise Union agriculture. The CAP envisages a series of measures to counter this situation, which have been only scantly effective. The new model introduced by the Commission constitutes an insufficient solution to the problem and needs to be redefined if it is to effectively attract new entrants, not only to farming but to any other activity in the countryside. That entails drawing a distinction between agrifood and agri-environmental policies on the one hand and territorial rural policies on the other, to develop a new Rural Policy Framework for the EU.

Auteurs : Jesús G. REGIDOR and Beatriz Sánchez Reyes (for statistical assistance) (Autonomous University of Madrid)

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : Abolishment of EU sugar quotas will lead to lower sugar and sugar beet prices in the EU, leading to lower margins for farms. At the same time, expansion of sugar beet growing and processing in a quota-free situation can decrease fixed cost per ha of sugar beet and per kg of sugar, making both sugar beet growing and processing more efficient. Besides, lower sugar price levels will make Europe a more attractive continent for investments by sugar-based industries.

Auteurs : A.B. SMIT and J.F.M. HELMING

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : Le Sénat américain et la commission de l'agriculture de la Chambre ont adopté leurs versions respectives de la prochaine loi agricole, mais ne se sont pas accordés sur un texte commun. Les deux propositions renforcent la protection des agriculteurs contre les conditions défavorables. Elles peuvent entraîner des paiements très importants pour les contribuables certaines années et pourraient conduire à des contestations devant l'OMC. Le processus de décision aux États-Unis est fortement influencé par des intérêts particuliers, ce qui explique la persistance de politiques coûteuses comme les subventions en faveur des assurances, qui se révèlent inefficaces. Les propositions du Congrès concernant la prochaine loi agricole sont susceptibles de fausser encore plus les marchés internationaux.

Auteurs : Mr Jean-Christophe BUREAU - AgroParisTech

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : This briefing note is a guidance document for Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament who are part of the delegation to Austria and South Tyrol. The briefing note provides a general overview of the country’s geographical, economic and demographic situation and detailed information on the nature of its agricultural system.

Auteurs : Francesco Tropea (Policy Department Structural and Cohesion Policies, European Parliament)

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural

Résumé : Cette étude examine dans quelle mesure la politique agricole commune actuelle et les politiques de l’UE qui y sont liées promeuvent la compétitivité durable et l’innovation dans le domaine de l’agriculture. Elle évalue les propositions législatives actuelles concernant la réforme de la politique agricole commune. Elle montre que la politique actuelle ne réalise pas son potentiel et qu’il reste encore du travail, bien que le paquet de réformes représente une amélioration, en particulier les propositions du deuxième pilier. Elle émet quelques recommandations en vue de renforcer l’équilibre du paquet et d’améliorer les propositions de chaque pilier de la politique agricole commune. Parmi les éléments essentiels figurent les conseils mieux avisés, le transfert de savoir, le recours plus important à des trains de mesures adaptés à la dimension locale et planifiés stratégiquement, une vérification plus approfondie de la durabilité et de nouveaux incitatifs à l’innovation.

Auteurs : Janet Dwyer, Brian Ilbery and Katarina Kubinakova (CCRI) ; Allan Buckwell, Henrietta Menadue and Kaley Hart (IEEP) ; Karlheinz Knickel (FS-UNEP CC) ; Francesco Mantino (INEA) ; Emil Erjavec (Univeristy of Ljublana)

Commissions : Agriculture et développement rural