Today sees a vote on the strategy for the Common European Agricultural Policy. A mammoth decision, because it is about whether the EU will experience agriculture in line with the #EUGreenDeal in the next 7 years - or whether it will be "business as usual". The latter would have fatal consequences for climate protection, biodiversity, small and medium-sized farms and public health.

But alarmingly, a failure of a sustainable CAP reform is looming: the majority of Christian Democrats, Social Democrats and Liberals, who voted for an EU climate law just a few weeks ago, are now voting for an agricultural reform that is not a reform - but an attack on climate, environment, animal and consumer protection. Manuela Ripa, MEP of the Ecological Democratic Party, commented: "This decision is completely backward-looking. It sends a fatal signal to millions of citizens who are campaigning against climate change, factory farming, species loss, monocultures and pesticides. That is why I, and my Greens/EFA group, together with the GUE/NGL group, reject this reform".

The initiatives by S&D, Renew Europe and EPP have watered down the EU Commission's already weak draft reform even further. The member states would be given a free hand in shaping subsidies for climate and environmental protection as well as the use of pesticides and antibiotics.

The current version of the agricultural reform works against the EU's own ambitions for a sustainable, climate-friendly Europe and does not include a strategy for the protection of biodiversity, nor does it reflect the #Farm2Fork strategy. This absolutely must be changed! In addition, subsidies must no longer be tied to the size of farms, but must be aimed in particular at small and medium-sized farms. Environmental services must be rewarded more. Compliance with high, binding standards for climate protection, biodiversity, pesticide use and improved animal welfare must be essential.