Brussels, 18/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Whilst assessing progress made on common agricultural policy (CAP) reform, the European Commission explained in Luxembourg on Monday 18 June that on the key points in the first pillar (direct aid and market spending) “work had progressed at the Council particularly on the greening of some of the direct aid”. Dacian Ciolos, the European commissioner for agriculture, pointed out that it should be taken into account that while the reform dossier is being transmitted to the Cypriot Presidency on 1 July, discussions would be taking place on the 2014-2020 financial framework. The negotiating box on the next financial framework mentions that 30% of aid should be “greened”.
The commissioner indicated that “a lot of progress” had been made in the direct payment section. He considers that over the next few months they should focus on the proposal on the common organisation of the single market, the horizontal rule and rural development. He believes that the Presidency report should fully reflect the debates and explained that the Presidency proposal on elements of the landscape and grassed areas should not be geographically specific and was creating some concern. (LC/transl.fl)