In the natural world, some animals have mastered the art of faking their death when they can’t scout a way out from their predators – a practice the European Commission appears be taking inspiration from in the handling of some of the thorniest agri-food cases.

This legislative mandate is offering proverbial food for thought when it comes to assessing the current shift in agri-food policymaking.

Some weeks ago, we talked about how agriculture lawmakers have become outcasts in their own policy realm.

Another notable trend is the increasing reliance on a wait-and-see approach by the EU executive in dealing with potentially problematic decisions they have to take.

In the battle between Italians and Croatians over wine protections, it appears the Commission has again bottled it when it comes to making a call.

The latter pushed for some form of lighter EU protection for the national dessert wine prošek, but according to Italians, this would be in conflict with the geographical indication (GI) of the iconic Italian bubbly wine prosecco.

In September 2021, the Commission announced the publication of the Croatian authorities’ application to register the traditional term ‘prošek’ in the EU Official Journal.

This move opened the evaluation procedure by the Commission, which has essentially to decide whether to apply a long-standing case law or embrace a new interpretation of the evocation principle in the GIs protection.

But a year and a half later, the EU executive has still not yet made up their mind.

The last time I asked about it was in November 2022, and a Commission spokesperson came back to me saying the assessment was still ongoing.

During that period, I spoke also to Croatian socialist MEP Tonino Picula, who confirmed to me that the Commission had promised to deliver its verdict a couple of months before – and blaming his Italian colleagues for pressuring to delay.

Another conservative Croatian MEP, Ladislav Ilčić, didn’t have any luck either after having asked EU agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski for an update on the matter in a parliamentary question in March.

The reply came ten days ago and was, once again, that the assessment is still ongoing.

“Although the applicable legislation does not provide for an explicit deadline for taking the decision, the Commission is making its utmost to avoid any undue delays in closing the procedure,” Wojciechowski said in the reply.

Nothing justifies such a delay in rendering the verdict – apart from the lack of willingness to do it.

My view is that the Commission is practising the so-called thanatosis – also known as ‘apparent death’.

Feigning death is a behaviour that animals engage in when they have no more escape and they feel they are in imminent danger. Many animals are practicing this defensive art such as foxes, snakes, cows, goats, and pigs.

But the Oscar for the best performance as a corpse goes to the opossum, as it not only lies down on the ground but it also stretches its legs upwards with its tongue hanging out.

Thanatosis brings some actual benefits as it causes the disorientation of the predator. But is the opossum method useful for the Commission?

Well, while the EU executive was playing dead on the prosecco v. prošek debate, the reform of the EU’s framework for geographical indications went ahead.

It’s yesterday’s news that the European Parliament’s agriculture committee (AGRI) adopted a set of amendments to the Commission’s proposal.

One of these amendments could technically sort out the quarrel as it extends the existing safeguards against the registration of trademarks identical or evocative of GIs to ‘traditional terms’.

In a nutshell, if the position of the Parliament will be confirmed in the interinstitutional talks, traditional terms such as prošek cannot be registered as identical to or evocative of GIs – and the Commission’s decision would become a pure formality.

It’s not the first time the Commission hedging its bets on the opossum method.

Ireland’s draft plan to introduce cancer warnings on alcohol bottles caused the dismay of Italy (them, again) and other member states.

But the entire situation was a consequence of the fact the Commission did not issue any formal reaction to the proposed law after the formal notification from Ireland – which, procedurally speaking, counts as giving tacit consent to the plan.

Once again, the Commission played the opossum. This led to the reopening of the debate on EU-harmonised labels for alcohol, something that the Commission always advocated for but considered taboo in the not-so-distant past.

Of course, this method remains controversial as most of the agri-food stakeholders are used to the Commission doing the Commission and deciding, at least in matters of its competence.

But this approach is also in line with the ambition of the current Ursula von der Leyen administration of acting big on big things.

It could explain, for instance, why it took just over 48 hours to take a geopolitical decision on the €100 million support package for farmers hit by an influx of agricultural goods from Ukraine.

Apparently the solution to the ‘niche’ challenge between Italians and Croatians will just have to wait.

Agrifood stories this week

EU offers €100 million top-up for ‘frontline’ countries after Ukraine import ban. The European Commission will provide a further €100 million support package to five EU ‘frontline’ countries in an attempt to alleviate pressure on their farmers, hit by an influx of agricultural goods from Ukraine. Read the full story.

Banned pesticides found in Ukraine agri imports prove sticky point. The detection of pesticides banned in the EU in shipments of wheat from Ukraine have added an extra layer of complexity to the unilateral decision of several neighbouring countries to block all Ukrainian agricultural imports, muddying the legality of the situation. Read more.

Bloc’s aid to farmers not well targeted during pandemic, says EU audit. Despite moving fast to contain disruptions to agricultural supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, EU support was not sufficient in reaching the most affected farmers and food processors, a report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) showed.

EU calls for more science-based measures to curb harmful fishing devices. The EU justified its decision to step out of a landmark agreement to curb harmful fishing devices in the Indian Ocean citing a lack of scientific assessment, but the explanation was deemed hypocritical by ocean conservation groups. Read more.

A third of EU live animal journeys last over eight hours, auditors find. Regional cost differences and uneven enforcement of EU animal transport rules by member states incentivise live animal transport, leading to loopholes and risks to adequate animal welfare standards, according to a new review by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). Read the full story.

Lawmaker: Food sector woes ‘overlooked’ in EU packaging law. With its new packaging rules, the EU aims to curtail exponentially-growing waste. But for the food sector, the proposal has unintended ramifications that have so far stayed under the radar, lawmaker Ulrike Müller warned.

Devil in the detail: How Green farm funds fail at implementation. Greater environmental protection has long been the EU’s stated goal for implementing agricultural subsidies. However, such ambitions have not delivered the desired environmental impact, two researchers have argued. Find out more.

Agrifood podcast: What to watch in Strasbourg and Spanish water politics

Agrifood podcast: What to watch in Strasbourg and Spanish water politics

This week, EURACTIV’s agrifood team talks you through the main things to keep an eye on in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, and EURACTIV’s Paula Andrés explores the water politics of the Spanish National Park of Doñana, which …

Agri-bites

GI unanimity. With zero abstentions and opposing votes, the European Parliament’s agriculture committee (AGRI) adopted its position on the proposed new rules on geographical indication (GIs). Changes proposed by the MEPs include a simpler registration procedure for new GIs and better protection of GIs online. GIs have “unique economic, social and political significance, creating value without the need of any public fund,” the leading MEP on the file, the socialist Paolo de Castro said in a statement.

Anti-deforestation, tricky implementation. Stakeholders from the EU agriculture sector have warned of “implementation challenges” after the European Parliament gave its final approval to a regulation on deforestation-free imports, which is set to ensure products imported into the bloc are not linked to deforestation elsewhere. “Uncertainties around how the provisions translate in practice should be addressed as soon as possible,” three associations representing the EU feed, cereal, and oilseed industry (COCERAL, FEDIOL, and FEFAC) said in a statement. Among other things, collecting the needed data from a multitude of small producers will be challenging, they warned.

Carbon farming as a ‘business model.’ Carbon farming – agricultural practices that contribute to storing CO2 in the soil – should be “an opportunity for farmers to transform their business model”, according to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament plenary on Tuesday. For the MEPs, farmers should be offered financial incentives for carbon farming measures – something the Commission has not yet addressed: A regulation proposal from the EU executive from October only foresees setting EU-wide standards for the certification of carbon sinks, without any funds attached.

Food container health risk. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical often used in foodstuff containers, is a “health concern for consumers across all age groups”, the EU Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warned this week. According to the agency, BPA used in foodstuff containers can migrate in very small amounts to the food and drinks they contain.

Healthy soils. On Tuesday, the European Commission and the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) launched the Mission Soil Manifesto, another step toward the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Mission Soil). The Manifesto highlights the urgent need for action to protect soil health and mobilises regions, municipalities, NGOs, businesses and citizens to become part of a community that cares for and acts on soil health. “Protecting soil is our responsibility,” said Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski while calling on regions and organisations to sign the manifesto.

Agrifood news from the CAPitals

SLOVENIA

Slovenian farmers walk out of government talks over environmental policies. Slovenian farmers, who have been fuming about environmental and other policies they say are making it near impossible to continue farming, have abandoned talks with the government and announced fresh protests after having already staged a huge protest last month. Read the full story. (Sebastijan R. Maček I STA)

AUSTRIA

Food security resilience plan. In an effort to “strengthen the resilience of the whole food chain,” Austrian agriculture minister Norbert Totschnig has tabled a five-point resilience plan for food security. The plan “contains incentives, including for investments in securing and expanding production capacities, better energy and environmental efficiency, and provisions for blackouts,” Totschnig said in a statement. Moreover, the plan is set to help reduce food waste and water usage as well as strengthen regional food processors, the conservative minister added. (Julia Dahm I EURACTIV.de)

SPAIN

Government mulls extra drought aid. The Spanish government has promised to look into support measures for agriculture and rural areas in the face of the severe drought currently facing the country, whose damage is already estimated at millions of euros. EURACTIV’s partner EFE Agro has more.

GREECE

Feta exports hit new record. Greece’s feta exports reached a record value of €605 million last year, agriculture minister George Georgantas said during the plenary session of the National Interprofessional Feta Organisation this week. This is compared to €388 million in 2019. The minister also announced that a new framework to tackle imitations of the Greek delicacy will be discussed in the coming days, together with the Milk Yield Committee that will set scientific standards for cheese production. (Marianthi Pelekanaki| EURACTIV.gr)

PORTUGAL

Zero VAT on basic foodstuffs is ‘temporary measure’. The zero VAT applied to essential food items should last around six months, and incentives will be gradually withdrawn as inflation slows down, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Tuesday. Find out more. (Pedro Morais Fonseca I Lusa.pt)

GERMANY

German farms register record year amid Ukraine war. German farms did better in the 2021-2022 financial year than in the past decade, according to new data, though the country’s agriculture ministry points out that the good performance does not mean the sector profited from the Ukraine war crisis. Read the full story. (Julia Dahm I EURACTIV.de)

ITALY

Agriculture minister pressured over ‘ethnic replacement’ comments. Italy’s agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida came under fire for his comments on Italy experiencing some form of ‘ethnic replacement’, which hinted at some far-right conspiracy theories. Read the full story. (Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)

ALBANIA

Albanian herb farmers turn to foreign workers amid labour shortage. Albania’s medicinal herb sector is struggling with a shortage of workers due to emigration and has instead turned to employ foreigners from countries like Bangladesh and India to fill the gap. Find out more. (Alice Taylor I exit.al)

Events

21-23 April I G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Miyazaki

24-25 April I AGRI Committee Meeting

25 April I Agrifish Council Meeting

26 April I A broken livestock sector: mirages & solutions

More on the same topic...

Bloc’s aid to farmers not well targeted during pandemic, says EU audit

Despite moving fast to contain disruptions to agricultural supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, EU support was not sufficient in reaching the most affected farmers and food processors, a report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) showed.