Articles by Natasha Foote

About Natasha Foote

Natasha is a freelance journalist, podcaster and moderator specialising in EU agrifood policy. She previously worked as an agrifood journalist with the EU media EURACTIV, and before that spent several years working on farms around Europe to learn more about the realities for farmers on the ground. Natasha holds a Master’s degree in Environment, Development and Policy with distinction from the University of Sussex, where she worked on food issues and alternative approaches to food production.

Brussels News – GMO No-Gos and Political Roundabouts

June 27, 2024 Natasha Foote

This week saw an unsuccessful last-ditch attempt to push the EU’s proposal to loosen rules on gene editing over the finish line, leaving the plans on ice. Meanwhile, it’s all been Politics with a capital P as Belgium prepares to hand the presidency over to Hungary, while leaders jostle for Brussels’ top jobs and considerations start on redrawing the lines of the European Parliament’s committees – a shake up which could have big impacts on the way agriculture files are handled. Natasha Foote and Oliver Moore bring you the latest from Brussels. […]

Will the Nature Restoration Law Decision be Reversed? Not likely – here’s why

June 19, 2024 Natasha Foote

Last minute political manoeuvres, coalition collapse and legal challenges – the Nature Restoration Law’s dramatic final showdown proved every bit as tumultuous as the rest of its path to adoption. But could the final seal of approval of this law be reversed? The answer seems to be no – and here’s why. […]

The EU’s Nature Restoration Law has been Approved – but Don’t Put the Bubbly on Ice Just Yet

June 17, 2024 Natasha Foote

Ministers have given their final blessing to the EU’s Nature Restoration Law, marking the last milestone for the law to enter into force. But proponents shouldn’t put the champagne on ice just yet, as the law could face more legal twists in its tumultuous trajectory. Natasha Foote reports on the latest from Brussels. […]

Where now for the EU Green Deal? Barometer findings unpacked.

May 22, 2024 Natasha Foote

The good news is that experts think the Green Deal will live on (in some shape or form). The bad news is that they paint a pretty bleak picture when it comes to the legacy of the past 5-year term on the food and farming sector. And while things are fine at the top level, down in the details is where the trouble emerges. ARC2020 digs into the latest Green Deal barometer to see what Europe’s sustainability experts made of the past political cycle – and what they see is next for the EU’s green ambitions. […]

Eleven Member States make last bid to save EU’s nature restoration law – but will it bear fruit?

May 14, 2024 Natasha Foote

A coalition of 11 EU countries have banded together for a last ditch push to save the EU’s nature restoration law – but this is unlikely to move things along before the EU’s June elections, according to sources close to the matter. Natasha Foote brings us the latest on the law. […]

What the EU farmers survey tells us – and doesn’t tell us – about CAP burden

May 8, 2024 Natasha Foote

For months, we have been hearing about the bureaucratic burden that has been pushing EU farmers to the brink. Now, the preliminary results of a Commission survey designed to unpack this are in – so does this administrative load turn out to be heavy enough to justify the hasty re-opening of the EU’s farming subsidy programme? Natasha Foote digs in. […]

Green Light Now, Green Fight Later – CAP Fast Track Risks Legal Wrangle

April 26, 2024 Natasha Foote

The European Parliament has officially backed plans to fast-track changes to the EU’s farming subsidy programme which dismantles its environmental requirements in the process. However civil society is not ready to let the decision go down without a fight, with lawyers gearing up to challenge the move. Natasha Foote reports. […]

Confidential Legal Advice on CAP Fast Track Uncovered – what’s in it?

April 19, 2024 Natasha Foote

When the Commission proposed re-opening the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy in efforts to placate protesting farmers, stakeholders were quick to question the legitimacy of the process, with some even labelling the move “unlawful”. Now, the European Parliament’s legal service has weighed in on the process. So what is the verdict? And what does it mean for the future direction of the policy process? Natasha Foote digs in. […]

Parliament Pushes Full Steam Ahead to Dismantle CAP’s Green Rules

April 12, 2024 Natasha Foote

The European Parliament has given its blessing to a fast-track approval process to push through a proposal aimed at simplifying the EU’s farming subsidy programme, which effectively guts the policy of its environmental requirements. Natasha Foote reports. […]

EU’s Nature Restoration Law at Critical Juncture after Pushback by Member States

March 25, 2024 Natasha Foote

The EU’s Nature Restoration Law has suffered yet another set back after a number of EU countries refused to greenlight the final shape of the negotiated law – something that both the Commission and campaign groups warn risks undermining the EU’s international credibility. Natasha Foote reports. […]

EU CAPitulates on Green Farming Measures

March 20, 2024 Natasha Foote

The European Commission has officially put forward plans to slash environmental measures in the EU’s farming subsidy programme and offer up more power to member states in deciding the future course of the policy. Natasha Foote reports. […]

Green CAP on the Chopping Block – Commission to Cut CAP’s Environmental Ambitions with no Impact Assessment

March 13, 2024 Natasha Foote

The European Commission plans to shift the EU’s farming subsidy programme from mandatory requirements towards a more ‘voluntary’ approach, proposing to slash or weaken a range of environmental measures, according to a leak of the EU executive’s plans. […]

The Re-Opening of CAP’s Black Box Could Be Coming – And Soon

February 27, 2024 Natasha Foote

The core acts of the EU’s farming subsidy programme could soon be once again up for grabs, with ministers backing a re-opening of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in efforts to make it lean and less green. Natasha Foote has more. […]

Simply Slashing the CAP – Commission Proposes Rollback on Rules

February 23, 2024 Natasha Foote

Further exemptions to environmental measures, slashing on-farm checks and a get-out-of-jail free card for farmers that miss requirements due to exceptional circumstances. These these just some of the suggestions put forward by the Commission as part of efforts to lighten the administrative load on farmers. […]

EPP’s Von der Leyen Launches Second Term Bid without Mentioning Farmers – Once.

February 22, 2024 Natasha Foote

The self-proclaimed ‘farmers party’ failed to mention the farming sector once while officially firing the election gun in Brussels on Wednesday (21 February). That’s despite the centre-right EPP’s efforts to position itself as the friend of farmers in the run up to June’s EU elections. […]