Brussels, 28/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - “The current major problem areas have to be tackled: price volatility and the fact that prices are not adequately remunerating farmers”, Geneviève Savigny of European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) told EUROPE. On Thursday 27 January, ECVC set out its ideas on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) after 2013 for Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloþ.
“While we might depend on aid, we also depend a lot on prices. We feel it's a pity that the Commission has removed from its options the possibility first of tackling this issue”, Savigny added. ECVC, then, is calling for a fourth option, in addition to the three set out in the Commission communication (status quo; more balanced, better targeted and more sustainable aid; and withdrawal of support for markets and income): giving the EU real regulation and market control instruments, by putting in place or retaining instruments which can have an effect on markets (management of production to avoid price falls, appropriate production standards, intervention on customs duties, a clear vision on margins and prices to stop any disconnect between prices and production costs).
On other issues, such as bringing more fairness to the allocation of direct payments, capping aid and the greening of some aid, ECVC is close to the commissioner. ECVC believes that the first pillar must promote environmentally friendly production methods (vegetable protein, organic farming, input reduction, etc) and calls for a link between payment and work, significant capping of aid (related to the number of persons working) and a payments system which helps keep small farms working.
The ECVC position differs from that of the COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU), which does not want any change: COPA opposes aid caps and greening. (L.C./transl.rt)