Latest news with #agriculturalpolicy
NHK
5 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Japan's LDP to mull holding leadership contest ahead of schedule
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has told lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party that he intends to remain in his post despite the party's setback in the Upper House election last month. But many lawmakers called for an early party leadership election. Following the calls, the party has decided to continue considering the matter. Ishiba, who is the president of the LDP, spoke on Friday at the party's official decision-making body, the Joint Plenary Meeting of Party Members of Both Houses of the Diet. The meeting lasted about two hours, as scheduled. Ishiba apologized at the outset of the meeting for the party's setback in the Upper House election in July, but he reiterated his intention to stay on. Ishiba said: "Tariff negotiations with the United States have resulted in an agreement, but there are many problems involved in implementing the deal. I wish to do my utmost to ease the anxieties of people in various industries as much as possible." He suggested that agricultural policy and disaster preparedness are also issues that need to be addressed. He asked the lawmakers to give their views so that he can continue to serve the nation responsibly. LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi said a party committee launched last week to analyze the reasons for the election loss is interviewing candidates and experts. He said the committee aims to compile a report by around the end of August and will present its findings at that time. Moriyama said the LDP is not a party that represents a particular class or interest, but a people's party that is rooted in the stance of the general public. He said the party should work as one, bearing in mind its long tradition and responsibilities. The rest of the meeting was held behind closed doors. Participants say some lawmakers called for unity under Ishiba. But they revealed that many others asked for the party's leadership election to be brought forward. As the Joint Plenary Meeting of Party Members does not have the authority to set the schedule for a leadership race, the leadership election commission will handle the matter.
NHK
5 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
LDP lawmakers meet to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba's fate
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has told lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party that he intends to remain in his post despite the party's setback in the Upper House election last month. But many lawmakers called for an early party leadership election. Ishiba, who is president of the LDP, spoke on Friday at the party's official decision-making body -- the Joint Plenary Meeting of Party Members of Both Houses of the Diet. The meeting lasted about two hours, as scheduled. Ishiba apologized at the outset for the LDP's poor showing in the election, but he reiterated his intention to stay on. Ishiba said: "Tariff negotiations with the United States have resulted in an agreement, but there are many problems involved in implementing the deal. I wish to do my utmost to ease the anxieties of people in various industries as much as possible." He suggested that agricultural policy and disaster preparedness are also issues that need to be addressed. He asked the lawmakers to give their views so that he can continue to serve the nation responsibly. LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi said a party committee launched last week to analyze the reasons for the election loss is interviewing candidates and experts. He said the committee aims to compile a report by around the end of August and will present its findings at that time. Moriyama said the LDP is not a party that represents a particular class or interest, but a people's party that is rooted in the stance of the general public. He said the party should work as one, bearing in mind its long tradition and responsibilities. The rest of the meeting was held behind closed doors. Participants say some lawmakers called for unity under Ishiba. But they revealed that many others asked for the party's leadership election to be brought forward. Ishiba met reporters on Friday after he reiterated his intention to stay in his post at a meeting of the LDP's official decision-making body, called the Joint Plenary Meeting of Party Members of Both Houses of the Diet. The meeting was held to discuss the party's setback in the Upper House election in July. Ishiba said he will value the lawmakers' opinions, and take into account the ongoing review of the election. He said the government has reached an agreement with the United States in tariff negotiations, but many topics need to be worked out. He said a huge number of items are exported to the US, and the tariff measures are a matter of life and death for Japanese businesses. He added that the government and the LDP have the responsibility to set the course and ease the concerns of various business sectors. As for calls to move up the schedule for an LDP leadership election, Ishiba said it will be held in accordance with the party's rules and he has nothing to say about the matter. Asked whether he intends to reshuffle the Cabinet or the LDP leadership team next month, he said he has no plan to do so at present, adding that he always focuses on what is best for the country and the people.
The Guardian
19-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
EU overhaul of farming strategy ignores vital green proposals, campaigners warn
European farmers will face fewer rules and less foreign competition, a new vision for agriculture promises, as environmental campaigners warn that key green proposals have been ignored. The EU's new farming strategy will overhaul the sector with targeted financial support, stricter import standards and a shift from 'conditions to incentives' in the green strings attached to its vast subsidy scheme, according to the report published on Wednesday. The strategy promises better pay and conditions, and proposes targeting support to help young farmers. It also calls for tighter rules on unfair trading practices, declaring that 'practices where farmers are systematically forced to sell below costs will not be tolerated'. But the document stops short of proposing an end to payments based on farm size and makes no mention of a 'just transition fund' to help farmers clean up their pollution. The proposals were among key recommendations in a report hammered out by a broad group of food chain stakeholders at the request of the commission last year. Marco Contiero, Greenpeace EU's agricultural policy director, said: 'When we got farmers' unions, environmental experts, scientists, traders and food companies around the same table, everyone was clear – Europe's food and farming system must change. But the commission's 'vision' can't seem to see that.' Campaigners said the proposed reforms to the subsidy scheme known as the common agricultural policy (CAP) did not go far enough. They also expressed fears that more environmental rules would be cut in the name of simplification, after several nature-protecting rules were delayed, deleted or watered down last year. Giulia Riedo, from WWF EU, said the new vision was a 'vague roadmap' that took 'very timid steps' towards fairer and more sustainable food supply chains. 'It includes a few positive elements, such as a commitment to a stronger enforcement of green legislation and financial incentives for farmers who go beyond existing environmental requirements. Yet, in trying to please everyone, the European Commission has failed to address critical issues, such as the necessary increase in environmental payments,' she said. Copa and Cogeca, Europe's biggest farming lobby, welcomed the proposal as a 'pragmatic reset' and said the commission's agriculture policy had regained its bearings. 'However, it fails to address the elephant in the room: the future CAP budget and the resources needed to finance this package of measures.' Cleaning up Europe's farms is seen as a vital step for the long-term health of the sector, as well as to protect wildlife and stop the planet from heating. Most European soil is unhealthy, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA), with 60-75% containing too much nitrogen and 80% containing pesticide residue. The agency has estimated the societal cost of degraded soil at around €50bn a year. 'By neglecting to enforce vital environmental laws and continuing to funnel subsidies to the wealthiest landowners, this plan sidelines the very farmers who steward our landscapes,' said Marilda Dhaskali from BirdLife Europe. 'Without decisive action to restore nature and adapt to climate realities, Europe's food security hangs by a thread.' Campaigners also criticised the vision for failing to include one of the most surprising conclusions to come out of the strategic dialogue, which recognised the case for eating less meat. The participants acknowledged that Europeans eat more animal protein than scientists recommend, and agreed that support was needed to rebalance diets toward plant-based proteins. 'European diets are fundamentally shaped by an industrial food system that makes it hard for people to choose healthy, sustainable food,' said Julia Christian from the NGO Fern. 'The [commission's] vision has missed a vital chance to address this. Instead of supporting measures to encourage consumers to eat more vegetables, pulses and fruits … the commission has focused almost exclusively on agricultural production, missing the bigger picture of food system reform.' Christophe Hansen, the European Commission's agriculture commissioner, said the proposals would make the sector more sustainable while keeping it attractive and well-paid enough for young people to join. He noted that there had been 'a lot of polemic' about farming, food and the environment. 'It's very important that we take this seriously, but that we find solutions together with the farmers, together with the food producers,' said Hansen, who is the son of a farmer. 'This will be done with dialogue, rather than by focusing on simple and blunt targets.'
