Brussels, 29/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 29 March, the Spanish Presidency presented the European agriculture ministers with conclusions (to which the forthcoming Belgian and Hungarian Presidency's "subscribe unreservedly") on "the future of the CAP: market management measures after 2013". This text takes account of the debate held by the Agriculture Council on this subject of 22 February this year. The subject of market measures takes over from the subjects on the future of the Common agriculture policy (CAP): the challenges facing CAP in the future (under the French Presidency in the second half of 2008, direct aid under the Czech Presidency, in the first half of 2009, and rural development, under the Swedish Presidency in the second half of 2009).
The text of the conclusions stipulates that a majority of countries: - feel that the orientation towards the market needs adopted by European agriculture and the CAP further to reforms previously implemented are sufficient; - take the view, given the increasing volatility of the markets, that it would be extremely beneficial in future to keep in place a safety net, "in order to protect not just farmers, but also all those involved in the agro-food chain, including the end consumer"; - are convinced of the need to keep in place the current instruments of the single CMO (common market organisation), which constitute the basis of this safety net.
The text points out that "a few delegations" also supported the need to create new market management instruments: - reinforcing the producer organisations and inter-professional organisations; - improving the function of the agro-food chain and the transparency of the price-setting process (possibly by the creation of standard contracts); - ensuring the salaries or revenue of farmers.
The Spanish Presidency noted that a considerable number of delegations were in favour, ahead of the forthcoming multi-annual financial framework, of sufficient financial instrument and resources to be able to "react promptly to any serious crisis affecting all of a sector which strongly involves the Community".
This text is supported by the majority of countries, but not all of them. It is for this reason that it does not represent the conclusions of the Council, but only of the Presidency. A number of Member States declined to get behind the text. These included Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Estonia, which are in favour of a more market-oriented policy. (L.C./trans.fl)