Latest news with #HerbertDorfmann
The Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Brussels is considering a major overhaul of farm subsidies
THE EU IS considering an overhaul how it funds agriculture in its next multi-year budget. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, will unveil its proposal for the 2028-2034 budget on Wednesday, kickstarting two years of talks between the 27 member states. At the heart of the debates will be the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) – vast farming subsidies that make up the biggest share of the budget. The CAP accounts for nearly a third of the EU's current multi-year budget – around €387 billion, of which €270 billion is directly paid to farmers. Now the commission plans to integrate it into a new major 'national and regional partnership' fund, which farmers fear will mean less support. One potential outcome would see the merging of the CAP, including both direct payments to farmers and rural development funds, into national plans combining investments and reforms across multiple sectors. The EU says it would streamline administration and better align farm funding with EU goals around climate action, competitiveness and crisis preparedness. Advertisement An EU official, however, stressed the CAP will have a 'specific regulation' with resources earmarked for farmers including direct aid, investments and support for small farms. But two separate mechanisms including a programme for the development of disadvantaged rural regions and an initiative for agricultural innovation could be moved from the CAP to another funding umbrella. 'We're making things more flexible,' the commission official said. Yet farmers' groups are not convinced and will stage a 'symbolic' protest to put pressure on the commission in Brussels on Wednesday. EU lawmaker and agriculture spokesman Herbert Dorfmann for the biggest group in the European Parliament, the right-wing EPP, emphasised the importance of a policy that was 'properly funded, truly common, and centred on farmers'. France, whose farmers are some of the biggest beneficiaries of the CAP, expressed concern today about potential changes before the document leak. 'What we obviously fear greatly is a dilution of the CAP budget,' French agriculture minister Annie Genevard said before a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels. Tractors have repeatedly blocked the streets of Brussels in recent years , with farmers upset at cheap imports, low margins and the burden of environmental rules.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brussels, my love? Israel-Iran war creates new layers of anxiety for EU
We are joined this week by the Lithuanian MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius from the Greens, Spanish Socialist MEP Hana Jalloul Muro and Italian centre right MEP Herbert Dorfmann from South Tyrol. The panel reflect on the ongoing Israel-Iran war that has dominated the news this week. An emergency debate was held in Strasbourg in the presence of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. She warned MEPs that the US should not get involved in the conflict, as it could drag the entire Middle East into a wider more dangerous predicament. "Our role is to de-escalate the conflict." Kaja Kallas also told MEPs this week that the ongoing Israel-Iran war should not overshadow the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. Virginijus Sinkevičius fears the war could drag on. "I see that the situation is not going to be resolved easily, because I think Israel has taken a decision. The big question now is what could be the consequences." As MEPs were gathered in Strasbourg, an EU foreign ministers meeting took place in Brussels this week and 17 of the 27 member states backed a move to review the EU-Israel association agreement—pushing a process that began with the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland. The deal was sealed in 1995 and came into force in 2000. Herbert Dorfmann said his group is against suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. "I think this doesn't make sense in this moment. We need to further work on a diplomatic basis," he said. The panel also discussed the EU China summit that will take place at the end of July. Brussels hopes the occasion will provide better access to Chinese rare earths and critical minerals. All MEPs agreed the EU and China should be friends but that a level playing field was a necessity. "Access to our market is a privilege." "Access to our market is a privilege," Virginijus Sinkevičius said adding that China should play by the same rules. "We need to be intelligent and have leadership," said Hana Jalloul Muro. Finally, MEPs chewed over French President Macron's calls to ban social media for under-15's in France. Greece and Spain are also trying to push for more EU action on this topic. However, all three politicians agreed that education was key and an outright ban may not have desired effects. "Well, good luck!! Is it really up to the state to do that?" Herbert Dorfmann quipped. Watch "Brussels, my love?" in the player above.
Euronews
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Brussels, my love? MEPs panic about Middle East escalation
In the hot seat We are joined this week by the Lithuanian MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius from the Greens, Spanish Socialist MEP Hana Jalloul Muro and Italian centre right MEP Herbert Dorfmann from South Tyrol. Middle East escalation - the EU on the side lines? The panel reflect on the ongoing Israel-Iran war that has dominated the news this week. An emergency debate was held in Strasbourg in the presence of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. She warned MEPs that the US should not get involved in the conflict, as it could drag the entire Middle East into a wider more dangerous predicament. Kaja Kallas also told MEPs this week that the ongoing Israel-Iran war should not overshadow the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. Virginijus Sinkevičius fears the war could drag on. "I see that the situation is not going to be resolved easily, because I think Israel has taken a decision. The big question now is what could be the consequences." As MEPs were gathered in Strasbourg, an EU foreign ministers meeting took place in Brussels this week and 17 of the 27 member states backed a move to review the EU-Israel association agreement—pushing a process that began with the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland. The deal was sealed in 1995 and came into force in 2000. Herbert Dorfmann said his group is against suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. "I think this doesn't make sense in this moment. We need to further work on a diplomatic basis," he said. China - a friend or foe for the EU? The panel also discussed the EU China summit that will take place at the end of July. Brussels hopes the occasion will provide better access to Chinese rare earths and critical minerals. All MEPs agreed the EU and China should be friends but that a level playing field was a necessity. "Access to our market is a privilege," Virginijus Sinkevičius said adding that China should play by the same rules. "We need to be intelligent and have leadership," said Hana Jalloul Muro. Banning social media under 15 - A good call? Finally, MEPs chewed over French President Macron's calls to ban social media for under-15's in France. Greece and Spain are also trying to push for more EU action on this topic. However, all three politicians agreed that education was key and an outright ban may not have desired effects. "Well, good luck!! Is it really up to the state to do that?" Herbert Dorfmann quipped. Watch "Brussels, my love?" in the player above.
Agriland
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
European Parliament changes protection status of wolves
The European Parliament has changed the EU's wolf protection status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected', to align it with the Bern Convention. With 371 votes for, 162 against and 37 abstentions, the parliament supported the European Commission's proposal for a targeted change of the Habitats Directive. The commission's proposal to alter the protection status of wolves in the EU came following a push from parliament for it. Member states will now have greater flexibility in managing their wolf populations to improve coexistence with humans and to minimise the impact of a growing wolf population in the EU. They will also be better able to take measures that are adapted to particular regional circumstances, according to the parliament. Among those in the parliament who voted for the change in status are MEPs who are members of the European People's Party grouping, which includes Irish Fine Gael MEPs. EPP group spokesman in the parliament's Agriculture Committee, Herbert Dorfmann MEP said: 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief. We have listened to their concerns and delivered real change at the European level to address today's reality and protect rural livelihoods. 'The Habitats Directive has been a clear success, helping the wolf population recover from near extinction to over 20,000 individuals across the continent. 'But now it's time to adapt to today's reality. This means balancing our conservation efforts with protecting farmers,' Dorfmann added. Protection status of wolves Member states must continue to ensure the wolf's favourable conservation status and may continue to list the wolf as a strictly protected species in national legislation, and to have stricter measures in place for its protection. The European Parliament agreed on Tuesday (May 6) to deal with the file under its urgent procedure, effectively 'fast-tracking' it. To enter into force, the draft law now requires formal approval by the European Council, which endorsed the same text on April 16, 2025. The directive will enter into force 20 days after it has been published in the EU Official Journal. Member states will then have 18 months to comply. According to the commission, there are over 20,000 wolves in Europe, and their populations and ranges are growing. This conservation success story has however led to increasing conflicts with human activities in some regions, in particular concerning livestock, it added. Previously, president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen has said that the comeback of wolves is good news for biodiversity in Europe, but the concentration of wolf packs in some regions has become 'a real danger especially for livestock'.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves
BARCELONA (AP) — Lawmakers in Europe voted Thursday to downgrade protections for wolves across the European Union's 27 states in a victory for farmers over environmentalists. Nearly two-thirds of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France voted to change wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' in a vote of 371 to 162, with 37 abstentions. Centrist and right-wing groups celebrated the vote. 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief," said Herbert Dorfmann, a spokesperson for the European People's Party, a coalition of center-right groups in the EU. Right-wing Dutch politician Sander Smit said on Twitter: 'This is fantastic news." Environmental groups criticized the decision as politically motivated rather than scientifically grounded. 'This is a sad day for biodiversity and wild animals,' said Léa Badoz at the Eurogroup for Animals. Joanna Swabe, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, called for individual governments to increase national protection for wolves. Politician Jutta Paulus from the parliament's Greens party said the campaign to reduce the wolves' protection 'borrows from the Donald Trump playbook' and 'ignores scientific evidence and attacks legislation which has been proven to work for decades for no clear gain other than the scoring of cheap populistic points." Tuesday's vote was the final real hurdle before the measure becomes EU law. The change to the central Habitats Directive law will now likely be passed swiftly by the European Council and enter into force across the 27 member states. Once deemed necessary to combat threats to the apex predator, restrictions on hunting wolves have over the past few years lost public support as many EU environmental rules and regulations have come under pressure in recent years. Populist and extreme-right parties have criticized the measures as being thought up by urban elites with little knowledge of rural life. Farmers in many member states have been increasingly angered by attacks on livestock by packs of wolves that have thrived in woods and fields close to agricultural land. The political movement to ease rules on killing wolves was given top-level support by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. An ardent fan of horses, von der Leyen had a pony Dolly that was killed by a wolf three years ago. Last year, more than 50 European nations from Turkey to Iceland voted to change the biodiversity treaty known as the Bern Convention to curtail protections for wolves. Experts and environmental groups estimate there could be up to 19,000 wolves across Europe, with large populations thought to roam in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. After nearly being wiped out in the 20th century, their numbers are estimated to have grown by at least 25% over the last decade. Programs around the world to protect wolves have been shown to benefit local ecosystems. Yellowstone National Park in the United States said reintroducing wolves in 1995 had led to a better regulated food chain that helped drive a bump in forest cover and animal populations. Yet American states like Wyoming and Montana have passed similar bills allowing for more killing of wolves, driven as in Europe by politics mixing agitated farmers and safety concerns. 'Wolves are vital to healthy ecosystems, but today's vote treats them as a political problem, not an ecological asset', said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe at International Fund for Animal Welfare. 'The EU was once proud to lead on nature protection. Now we are seeing vital species like the wolf sacrificed for short-term political interests that will benefit no one.'
