Brussels, 19/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The report by Richard Ashworth (ECR, United Kingdom) on simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was adopted by a show of hands by MEPs meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday 18 May. This simplification is expected to be combined with a simplified application of the CAP and a reduction in bureaucratic formalities, to make support measures “more efficient and less costly”, particularly in the field of rural development. “The new CAP must be simpler and more reactive”, explained Ashworth.
MEPs also want to facilitate direct payment administrative procedures to make payment modalities more flexible. They are also requesting that definition of an “agricultural activity benefiting from the direct payment system” be revised, so that only working farmers are eligible. The EP would like to get rid of the obligation on farmers to annually communicate detailed information on their livestock and production quantities, when this data is in fact often directly available from member state payment bodies. In his report, Ashworth welcomes the fact that the 25% reduction target for administrative charges proposed in the CAP health review is due to be attained before 2012.
The resolution is also examining sanctions taken against farmers and which is expected to be “adapted to the level of infringement”. MEPs point out that controls on respect for cross compliance (respect for health, environmental and animal welfare standards) aim to advise farmers so that they can meet their legal obligations without incurring too high costs. The European Parliament would like inspections to be reduced or replaced by random controls “in cases where only a few infringements occurred in previous years”.
In the context of animal identification, MEPs are requesting that the system be more standardised and call for an end to “superfluous” legal requirements. They are calling for simplification of the information collected on the movement of sheep and goat herds and would like a three-year amnesty for sanctions regarding cross-compliance for electronic identification of animals. In the report, Ashworth explained that this technology is both new and complex and it will take time for farmers to get used to it and test it out.
MEPs are also proposing that aid to farmers be enhanced by way of an active information policy through a telephone and Internet connection to guide them in their work and inform them about what quotas should be respected. This aid would also include infringements and enable member states to gradually reduce their quota of inspections. The communication plan on cross-compliance for farmers and consumers is also in the pipeline.
Ashworth underlined the fact that simplification, transparency and fairness should be top priorities in CAP reform. (C-C.G./transl.fl)