Brussels, 02/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the Copa-Cogeca congress in Budapest on Tuesday 2 October, European Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Ciolos said that an “an agreement on a reduced common agricultural policy (CAP) budget [2014-2020 period] would entail sacrifices”. He spoke of the resolve of some member states “to ring-fence direct payments” (first pillar support) “and that would happen at the expense of the second pillar [rural development].” “We don't want heads of government to have to choose between the first and second pillars - they are complementary and belong together”, Ciolos said.
On greening of aid from the first pillar of the CAP, Ciolos does not take a “dogmatic” stance. “I indicated the flexible arrangements very early in the negotiations. But I must put my foot down on one thing - I am firmly opposed to the idea of a pick-and-mix menu. Farmers would be the first to suffer from this kind of à la carte approach”, which would create distortions between them. To avoid this problem, apart from the three simple greening measures proposed by the Commission, there is a key word, according to Ciolos - equivalence. There may be agri-environmental measures which have a more beneficial effect for the environment and which are already supported under the second pillar. But these alternative agri-environmental measures will be assessed to ensure that their impact is at least equivalent to that of the three initial measures. If this is the case, the implementing farm holdings will be entitled to receive funds for both greening under the first pillar and agri-environmental aid under the second pillar.
On market instruments, Ciolos recognised that the current volatility of prices is absolutely untenable in the long term - “something needs to be done” (more responsive safety nets, preventive and anticipatory instruments provided for under the second pillar, and better organisation of farmers).
On plantation rights, he said that wine - with or without geographical indications - needs regulation. “Liberalisation is not an option.” He recommends a European safety net, national management of wine authorisations, with greater involvement of the professionals, in particular for wines without appellation. (The high level group is meeting for a last time in November). (LC/transl.fl)