In a move that has stunned EU officials, Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has drafted a controversial and unsolicited law aimed at food security, bypassing the usual legislative procedures and directly clashing with existing EU climate and environmental policies, according to a draft obtained by POLITICO.
The draft, titled the “Directive on the Protection of Agricultural Activities,” was not included in the European Commission’s official legislative agenda, catching many within the institution off guard. With Wojciechowski’s tenure set to conclude soon, this unexpected draft appears to be his final effort to cement a favorable legacy for EU farmers.
“This document was prepared by Commissioner Wojciechowski independently, without involvement from any Commission services,” stated Olof Gill, a Commission spokesperson, addressing queries from POLITICO about the four-page document, which is noted for its numerous typographical errors.
Wojciechowski, who is soon to be replaced as part of a broader reshuffle by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has previously demonstrated a propensity for taking unilateral action. Just last month, he released a report highlighting “the most significant activities and achievements” of his tenure, controversially including an illegal ban imposed by Central European countries on Ukrainian agricultural imports as a “notable personal victory.”
Earlier in March, the Commissioner faced censure from the Commission for unilaterally proposing major amendments to the European Green Deal, which he blamed for the widespread farmer protests across Europe this year.
Now, with this latest draft, Wojciechowski is likely to provoke further discontent within the Berlaymont, the EU’s headquarters.
The standard EU legislative process involves extensive impact assessments, stakeholder consultations, and meticulous drafting by expert teams, particularly from the relevant department, DG AGRI. Such documents typically span dozens of pages, with rigorous legal scrutiny applied to every detail.
In contrast, the draft obtained by POLITICO resembles a brief memo and seems to echo the demands of Europe’s influential agricultural lobby groups. It includes provisions favoring large-scale agricultural interests and proposes a series of financial and legal benefits, while dismissing environmental regulations as obstacles to food security. The draft’s limited consideration for small-scale producers further highlights its alignment with the interests of major agricultural associations.