Subject: Resilient policies are needed to protect agriculture from the effects of drought
The effects of the climate emergency – with drought being the most severe – are being felt in Europe, including in Greece, and are expected to become increasingly frequent and severe. The Greek Government is implementing an ambitious strategic programme named YDOR 2.0, which includes a financial plan that draws resources from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Through this, major land improvement and irrigation projects contained in the new CAP Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 and the 2014-2022 Rural Development Programme are being implemented. However, more knowledge, innovation, awareness-raising and information is needed to enable farmers to minimise the impact – especially of water scarcity – on agricultural production to safeguard the future of European agriculture and food security.
In view of this:
1. What steps will the Commission take to achieve a long-term water resilience policy throughout the EU, to mitigate the effects of the drought faced by farmers?
2. Will the next CAP reform include a specific chapter on water, as well as further measures on top of the existing ones to mitigate and adapt to the extreme effects of the climate crisis?
Submitted: 13.9.2024
Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission (15 November 2024)
1. In her political guidelines for the next Commission 2024-2029 (1), the Commission President highlighted the need to step up the EU’s action on climate resilience including water resilience in agriculture, as also recommended in the report on the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture (2). In the first 100 days the next College will present a ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ looking at how to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the farming sector including also Guidance on Climate Resilient Landscapes to help farmers retain more rainwater in soils. The Commission also supports research and innovation on water resilience (3) through different Horizon Europe (4) programmes, for instance on improved irrigation techniques.
2. Building resilience of the agricultural sector, including water resilience, will clearly require strong attention under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (5) post 2027. As outlined in the mission letter to the Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food (6), appropriate instruments for enhancing climate risk preparedness and crisis management will be developed. Certain tools are available under the current CAP to support sustainable resource use, efficient water management and climate adaptation, as well as risk and crisis management tools and should be used to their full potential.
1 ∙ ⸱ https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/towards-new-commission-2024-2029/president-elect-ursula-von-der-leyen_en
2 ∙ ⸱ https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap-overview/main-initiatives-strategic-dialogue-future-eu-agriculture_en
3 ∙ ⸱ Of particular relevance are the partnerships ‘Water Security for the Planet’ (https://www.water4all-partnership.eu/), the Partnership on Research and
Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), https://prima-med.org/) together with the Missions ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ (https://research- and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our- ocean-and-waters_en), ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’ (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and- open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/adaptation-climate-change_en). and ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (https://research-and- innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/soil-deal- europe_en#what-are-eu-missions). 4 ∙ ⸱
https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en 5 ∙ ⸱ https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy_en 6 ∙ ⸱
https://commission.europa.eu/document/2c64e540-c07a-4376-a1da-368d289f4afe_en