Brussels, 08/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The discussions that took place on Monday 6 December at the Special Agricultural Committee (SAC) confirmed that one of the questions creating the biggest problem in the draft reforms involves the “greening” of part of the direct aid paid to farmers. Some southern European countries (like Greece) and some new member states have criticised this aspect of the proposals in the November communication on the post-2013 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The European Commission is proposing to enhance CAP environmental performance through a “compulsory ecological component” in direct payments. This will take the form of environmental measures applicable throughout EU territory. In response to questions from some delegations, the Commission representative at the SAC explained that with regard to the “greening” of the CAP, member states will have to choose measures to implement (permanent grazing, set aside, crop rotation etc) that are the most appropriate to regional specificities. Part of the “green” aid payment corresponds to implementation of these obligatory measures (1st pillar containing direct aid and market spending), the 2nd pillar (rural development programme) serving as “an adjustment variable”. Some delegations interpret this “green” additional payment as a single payment (per hectare) for all countries. It will be different from basic income and will provide different income support levels in EU countries and regions because it is linked to conditions and production costs.
The SAC also discussed the way in which support to less favoured regions would finally be distributed between the first and second pillars. The Commission is proposing that aid be maintained to less favoured regions in the second pillar and to programme an additional payment (voluntary and based on surface area) for zones hampered by specific natural limitations. This additional payment would be a kind of inter-regional compensation, for mountainous regions in the centre of France, for example, where suckler cow herds are raised.
The notion of the active farmer is also causing some concern among several member states. The Commission is proposing to target support exclusively to “active farmers”, in response to the criticism made by the European Court of Auditors. The notion of what constitutes an active farmer will be discussed during the working lunch at the next Agriculture Council on Monday 13 December. (L.C./transl.fl)