ENVI

Vegetarian by circumstance: In 2022, due to a rapid increase in food prices, 8.3% of people in the EU were unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. What steps can the EU take to ensure that access to food is both sustainable and…

Motion for a resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)

Vegetarian by circumstance: In 2022, due to a rapid increase in food prices, 8.3% of people in the EU were unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. What steps can the EU take to ensure that access to food is both sustainable and equitable for all its citizens?

Submitted by: Dave Klinkenberg (NL), Victor Meijers (NL), Thies Reede (NL), Guusje Schuurmans (NL), Elise van der Wielen (NL). Chaired by: Jasmīna Bundule (LV)

The European Youth Parliament aims to reduce the number of people unable to afford a meal with meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day while ensuring that the food is produced in a sustainable manner and retaining economic stability.

The above is decided upon because

  1. It is necessary to develop a food and agricultural industry that is sustainable in environmental, economic as well as social aspects,
  2. ​​There is a lack of effective binding requirements within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) framework for farmers to implement Farm to Fork sustainability measures,
  3. Providing accessible and economical options of meat, fish and vegetarian equivalents to the citizens of the EU is of fundamental importance,
  4. There has been a drastic increase of inflation rates of imported goods affecting European consumers,
  5. 9% of all EU food supply is imported, which causes additional costs and issues not only to consumers but also Member States,
  6. There is a clear divide between the Eastern and Western Member States regarding the accessibility of meat, fish and vegetarian equivalents.

To that end, the European Youth Parliament

  1. Requests the European Central Bank (ECB) to increase the interest rate, which in turn decreases inflation thus strengthening the euro as a currency and, therefore, decreasing the price of meat, fish and vegetarian alternatives;
  2. Urges the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) to distinguish between sustainable and unsustainable food by using labels;
  3. Calls upon the European Commission to launch a media campaign focused on Eastern Europe, raising awareness of food waste;
  4. Invites the Central and Eastern European Member States to partner with corporations to promote the decrease of food waste;
  5. Encourages the Directorate-General of Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) to set clear guidelines for the CAP on what they will be subsidising to work towards the European Green Deal;
  6. Further encourages such subsidies to only be awarded to those farmers actively working towards a more sustainable farm.

Annex: Definitions belonging to the Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)

For the purposes of this resolution:

  1. ‘Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)’ is one of the main policies of the EU. It aims to provide support to smaller farms to ensure the economic viability of European farmers, to improve agricultural productivity and to increase flexibility for Member States to implement measures that are best suited for local needs and capabilities. One of its main instruments is the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (PMEF), set up by the European Commission to support the CAP in the shift from rule compliance to showing performance and results. Based on the framework farmers as well as Member States will set goals in the area of farming, food production as well as distribution,
  2. ‘‘Farm to Fork” strategy’ is the agricultural pillar of the European Green Deal; this strategy has been developed by the European Commission to ensure better and more environmentally friendly food production in the EU. It encompasses the goals of increasing sustainable food production, reducing food insecurity and keeping stable food prices by drafting regulations around farming, sales as well as consumption. There is currently no tangible progress recorded, since the EU was set to have the strategy proposed by the end of 2023, and all the main goals are to be reached by 2030,
  3. ‘The European Central Bank (ECB)’ is the EU body responsible for controlling the Eurozone and ensuring monetary stability.
  4. ‘The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)’ is the body supporting the stakeholders who take part in the European Green Deal.
  5. ‘Central Eastern European (CEE) Member States’ include Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
  6. ‘Directorate-General of Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)’ is responsible for agricultural and rural development policies within the EU as well as the CAP.