Brussels, 02/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - After discussion on 13 February on direct payments and market measures, EU experts meeting within the Special Agriculture Committee (SAC) on Monday 27 February tackled the issue of simplification in the field of rural development and financing of the common agricultural policy (CAP). A vast majority of delegations attending the SAC noted that Commission proposals on rural development and CAP funding do not always run along the lines of simplification.
For rural development, several countries (including France, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands) welcomed implementation of the common strategic framework for harmonising Structural Funds, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and the Fisheries Fund. However, other countries (such as Spain and Romania) underlined that this would, at least initially, involve a considerable administrative burden. Many countries (Austria, the United Kingdom, Finland and Hungary) expressed reticence about the notion of performance reserve.
As regards the financial aspects of the CAP, several delegations hailed the proposed reduction of audits or checks (Germany, Austria, Italy to name a few), while others (United Kingdom, Finland, Romania and Italy) consider that these could be scaled down by applying risk management in checks. Many countries wondered whether reduction of the number of paying agents is truly tantamount to simplification. A large number of questions were raised regarding the new eco-conditionality measures. Some asked whether they really represent simplification rather than an administrative burden. France, Hungary and Finland especially asked whether there was a risk that they might duplicate the “greening” of direct aid. Italy asked whether sanctions relating to non-compliance with these measures should be reduced, and Belgium and Spain wondered whether the “ex ante” assessment planned might increase workload. The Agriculture Council will discuss CAP simplification on 30 March. (LC/transl.fl)