The European Commission is serving food poverty as part of the election campaign — Brussels Morning Newspaper

The European Commission is serving food poverty as part of the election campaign. Instead of healthy food – pesticides.Instead of a green future direction, agricultural disaster.

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), The European Commission has issued two communications significant for citizens who buy food daily want to be healthy, concerned about the quality and safety of food. Unfortunately, both are another nod towards the farmed animal sector and conglomerates. The EU election campaign requires compromises and departure from necessary plans to repair the food and agriculture system.

On February 6, 2024, “The Commission sets out the path to achieve the goal of making the European Union climate-neutral by 2050. It recommends reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, which is in line with the latest scientific opinions and EU commitments under the Paris Agreement.

To achieve the 90% emission reduction target by 2040, the following actions will be necessary: full implementation of existing EU regulations to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030; decarbonization of industry by relying on existing strengths such as wind energy, hydropower, and electrolyzers; increasing domestic production in growth sectors such as batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar cells, and others; justice, solidarity, and social policy at the center of transformation, assisting particularly vulnerable citizens, regions, businesses, and workers through tools such as the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund; open dialogue with all stakeholders, including farmers, businesses, social partners, and citizens.”

What is missing from the text?

The European Commission had commitments regarding a 30% reduction in emissions other than CO2 from agriculture, such as CH4 emissions from animal agriculture and N2O emissions from soils. They also removed parts of the communication acknowledging the role of lifestyle changes, including dietary changes, in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Another nod towards meat and dairy giants, as the farmed animal sector is responsible for the highest emissions in agriculture,” says Anna Spurek, Green REV Institute. “This means that people living in rural areas will continue to suffer from the stench and diseases caused by the proximity of factories producing unethical, unsustainable food. It also means that we, consumers, will be condemned to unhealthy food,” she adds.

Ursula von der Leyen: food safety? – let them eat pesticides.

Another decision by the European Commission excludes a voice for consumer health, for food justice, a voice for the health of Europeans.

“It’s hard to comment that the European Commission condemns society to dangerous food. It’s a scandalous decision with consequences for public health, for all of us, for our loved ones,” says Anna Spurek, REV.

“I would like to remind you that we are talking about the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable use of plant protection products and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, in which the Commission itself states that: Achieving safe, sustainable, fair, climate-sensitive, affordable food production respecting the principles of sustainable development, the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems, while ensuring food security is important for citizens and is among the 49 proposals contained in the final report of the Conference on the Future of Europe, published on May 9, 2022.

Citizens also call on the Union to protect and restore biodiversity, landscapes, and oceans, and to eliminate pollution, as well as, to introduce decisive measures to promote and ensure a more ecological and climate-oriented agriculture.

People’s health, nature, the environment. Several European Citizens’ Initiatives. The voice of citizens has simply been postponed because the European Commission has started its 2024 campaign,” Anna Spurek, REV, adds.

Green REV Institute: “The European Commission is telling us – let them eat food with pesticides, let them breathe the stench of farms. It’s a show of strength by politicians, led by Ursula von der Leyen, supporting the European People’s Party, who have completely lost touch with the reality of EU citizens fighting for the health of their loved ones and suffering from chemicals and pollution.”

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