Brussels, 23/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the EU aims to “make progress” on the proposals of the European Commission regarding the future CAP (common agricultural policy), the Danish minister for agriculture, Mette Gjerskov, announced last Thursday, at a debate organised by Copa-Cogeca.
According to a press release by the union organisation which represents farmers in Europe and cooperatives, Gjerskov is in favour of a simplification of the CAP, which has also been requested by Copa-Cogeca and many other agriculture ministers. Although she is in favour of the concept of greater greening of CAP aid, as proposed by the Commission, she said that it was vital that this did not create an additional administrative burden and that it brings added value on the ground. She also voiced concerns at the Commission's proposals concerning an upper limit on aid to large farms, indicating that this measure would simply increase the administrative burden. The Danish minister agrees with the need for an effective European promotion policy. Gjerskov plans to tackle all of the key issues regarding the future CAP by the end of June 2012. The Presidency will then deliver a report on the state of progress with work ahead of the next Presidency (Cyprus will take up the mantle from July 2012), with a view to an agreement on the proposals in 2013. (LC/transl.fl)