News story: New requirements for farmers to improve environment for all
New rules are now in force which will protect the water environment and save farmers money.
The new rules, which came in to force on 2 April 2018, mean it is now mandatory for all farmers in England to maintain good practice to protect water quality and prevent water pollution incidents.
Collectively, farming related pollution incidents can harm wildlife in our rivers and seas. They also impact on our economy, resulting in higher bills from increased water treatment and affect our tourism and shellfish industry.
Many farmers have already made great progress in addressing pollution risks but the new rules will help tackle water pollution by ensuring all farmers take action.
The rules will:
- promote good practice in managing fertilisers and manures;
- encourage land managers to take reasonable precautions to prevent diffuse pollution from runoff or soil erosion;
- require land managers to plan each application of manure or fertilisers, based on soil tests, to meet but not exceed crop and soil needs.
Our 25 Year Environment Plan set out how these new rules will require every farmer to identify and manage risks to water and start taking precautions to reduce ammonia emissions, reducing pollution and soil erosion and improving resource efficiency.
Environment Minister Therese Coffey said:
This is a really important opportunity for farmers to reduce pollution in watercourses. In following these rules, farmers will be able to help reduce pollution incidents, improve water quality and save money through more efficient use of resources.
The new rules are an important part of our 25 year plan for the environment which will help us deliver our plans for a Green Brexit and leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it.
The new farming rules have been drawn up with farming and environment representatives so that they are practical, risk based and will prevent and reduce agricultural pollution. They encourage the farmer to think about the risk of water pollution, how to keep valuable topsoil on their fields and to apply fertilisers only when it is appropriate to do so. Farmers and land managers will be able to determine what approach is best for their land, through methods such as deciding when it is safe to spread fertilisers.
The rules cover:
- planning the use of manures and fertilisers to improve soil nutrient levels and meet crop needs;
- storing organic manures and positioning livestock feeders away from water bodies;
- applying manures or fertilisers to minimise impact on the water environment;
- precautions to prevent soil erosion;
- reducing livestock poaching.
Farming rules for water are part of a whole package of measures to help farmers and land managers look after the environment. The government is also investing £400 million through Countryside Stewardship which supports farmers in creating or restoring precious habitats and a £12 million farm ammonia reduction grant has incentivised farmers to tackle agricultural emissions.
Daily News 04 / 04 / 2018
Eurostat: Février 2018 – Le taux de chômage à 8,5% dans la zone euro, à 7,1% dans l’UE28
Dans la zone euro (ZE19), le taux de chômage corrigé des variations saisonnières s’est établi à 8,5% en février 2018, en baisse par rapport au taux de 8,6% de janvier 2018 et au taux de 9,5% de février 2017. Il s’agit du taux le plus faible enregistré dans la zone euro depuis décembre 2008. Dans l’UE28, le taux de chômage s’est établi à 7,1% en février 2018, en baisse par rapport au taux de 7,2% de janvier 2018 et au taux de 8,0% de février 2017. Il s’agit du taux le plus faible enregistré dans l’UE28 depuis septembre 2008. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Christian Wigand – Tel.: +32 229 62253; Sara Soumillion– Tel.: +32 229 67094)
Eurostat: Le taux d’inflation annuel de la zone euro en hausse à 1,4%
Le taux d’inflation annuel de la zone euro est estimé à 1,4% en mars 2018, contre 1,1% en février selon une estimation rapide publiée par Eurostat. S’agissant des principales composantes de l’inflation de la zone euro, alimentation, alcool & tabac devraient connaître le taux annuel le plus élevé en mars (2,2%, comparé à 1,0% en février), suivis de l’énergie (2,0%, comparé à 2,1% en février), des services (1,5%, comparé à 1,3% en février) et des biens industriels hors énergie (0,2%, comparé à 0,6% en février). Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Christian Spahr – Tel.: + 32 229 50055; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of the Vita Group by Strategic Value Partners
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Vita Cayman Limited, the ultimate holding company of the Vita Group, of the UK by Strategic Value Partners, LLC of the US. The Vita Group is a pan-European manufacturer and supplier of polyurethane foam, including production of foam and conversion of foam. Strategic Value Partners, LLC is a privately owned investment firm that manages hedge funds and private equity funds, and invests in public and private equity markets, debt markets and other alternative investment markets world-wide. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given the lack of horizontal overlaps and vertical links between the activities of the Vita Group and the other portfolio companies of Strategic Value Partners, LLC. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8830. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Le commissaire Moscovici en visite à Lyon, France demain
Pierre Moscovici, commissaire pour les affaires économiques et financières, la fiscalité et les douanes, est en visite à Lyon, France, ce jeudi 5 avril dans le cadre de son Tour de France des Régions. Le Commissaire commencera par visiter l’atelier textile « Fil en Forme » – initiative de l’association pour l’emploi IDEO – initiative financée par le Fonds social européen qui vise l’insertion de tous dans l’emploi. Ensuite, il visitera aux côtés du président de la Métropole de Lyon le projet urbain « Société publique locale (SPL) Confluence » financé par le FEDER permettant le développement d’un quartier éco-responsable, suivie d’une conférence de presse avec des élus locaux. Il participera ensuite à un dialogue citoyen sur le thème “Une Europe qui protège, vraiment ?” à la Maison des Etudiants avec Sylvie Guillaume, vice-présidente du Parlement européen. Ce dialogue sera diffusé en direct sur Facebook. Enfin, il prendra part aux rencontres de la fédération française des maisons de l’Europe. (Pour plus d’information: Christian Spahr – Tel.: +32 229 50055; Vanessa Mock – Tel.: +32 229 56194; Patrick McCullough – Tel.: +32 229 87183; Enda McNamara – +32 229 64976)
Commissioner Stylianides visits Lebanon
Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides is in Lebanon today. He will meet with Lebanese officials: Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Social Affairs Minister Pierre Bou Assi and Minister of State for Displaced Affairs Mouin Merhebi. Discussions will be on the relations between the European Union and Lebanon, as well as on the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and the region. He will also discuss ways to assist Lebanon to continue to address the Syrian refugee crisis and how to further support host communities. The Commissioner will also deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference: “Diversity in Unity and Fundamental Freedoms for Christians and Muslims in the Middle East: A Conference for Parliamentary Dialogue” that is held at the Lebanese Parliament. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz de Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)
ESMA finds high degree of asset concentration in EU alternative fund industry
ESMA’s latest Trends, Risks, Vulnerabilities (TRV) Report No. 1, 2018, also found that the vast majority of European AIFs are managed cross-border using passporting rights.
The ESMA TRV provides first-time EU-wide evidence on the AIF market, based on end-2016 data collected under the Alternative Investment Fund Directive (AIFMD). AIFs include hedge funds, real estate funds, funds-of-funds, and private equity funds.
The AIFMD data shows that 2% of the EU AIF funds are above EUR 1bn in size, holding around 46% of the industry’s total net asset value (NAV). On the other hand, around 95% of EU AIFs hold below EUR 500mio (i.e. 40% of total NAV). Two-thirds of the total assets managed by EU AIFMs are divided among the following investment strategies:
- Fixed income fund;
- Equity fund;
- Infrastructure fund;
- Commodity fund; and
- Other fund.
Fixed income AIFs hold the largest share in terms of NAV. The AIFMD data also shows that repurchase agreements serve as AIFs’ primary borrowing source, while unsecured borrowing plays only a minor part. In addition, EU hedge funds mainly rely on short-term funding liquidity, with the majority of their borrowings, not committed beyond one day.
The extensive reporting obligations introduced by the AIFMD for AIFs and their managers (AIFMs) allow National Competent Authorities to oversee whether AIFMs are properly addressing micro-prudential risks, and to assess the potential systemic consequences of the individual or collective AIFM activities. By providing a first analysis of the structure and main risks stemming from the AIF market, the ESMA article helps to build an operational framework for monitoring risks in the AIFM sector.
Background
The objective of the AIFMD is to provide an internal market and a harmonised regulatory and supervisory framework for the activities within the EU of all AIFMs.
ESMA’s TRV contributes to promoting financial stability and enhancing consumer protection by regularly looking into cross-border and cross-sector trends, risks and vulnerabilities, both at the wholesale and retail level.
February 2018 Euro area unemployment at 8.5% EU28 at 7.1%
The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5% in February 2018, down from 8.6% in January 2018 and from 9.5% in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since December 2008. The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.1% in February 2018, down from 7.2% in January 2018 and from 8.0% in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2008. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.