Brussels, 17/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The debate between the European Agriculture Ministers, which was posted on Wednesday 16 December by the Swedish Presidency, once again pointed to differences of opinion between the countries over the rural development policy post-2013, when the current financial framework of the EU comes to an end.
Many Member States requested that this "second pillar" of the CAP (Common agriculture policy) remain an integral part of the future CAP. A number of ministers, including those of France, Spain, Ireland and Luxembourg, also laid emphasis on the importance of keeping in place a strong "first pillar" (direct aid and market support) in parallel. Others, led by the United Kingdom (and Denmark) feel that the objective should be to transfer as much funding as possible from the first pillar to the second.
The debate also provided the opportunity to reiterate that the modulation of direct aid will no longer be on the agenda after 2013, as the division of funds between revenue and market support and rural development will be set on the basis of renewed political orientations.
There is no need to "reinvent the wheel". Addressing the ministers, Mariann Fischer Boel said that, as regards the future rural development policy, it will not be necessary to "reinvent the wheel" as the current mechanism is already producing good results. Putting forward the slogan "green growth", in other words "producing more with less", the European Agriculture Commissioner suggested three major objectives: - promoting a competitive agriculture and forestry sector; - protecting natural resources and the environment (to include meeting the challenges of climate change); - and supporting all development in a broader sense (employment and living conditions).
In order to do this, the "axes" which give the current policy its structure will no longer be necessary, explained Ms Fischer Boel. Instead, she proposed dividing the three objectives into "more specific targets" which, in turn, will come under "tighter strategic priorities", which the Member States will be obliged to observe. But we must also find a key for the division between the Member States of rural development funds, and "this will not be easy", the Commissioner warned. (L.C./trans.fl)