Brussels, 16/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Due to delays in the adoption of the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP), and especially in the absence of an agreement on the multi-annual financial framework of the EU 2014-2015, the European Commission is soon to propose interim measures, particularly on direct payments made to farmers, sources told EUROPE on Wednesday 16 January.
In order for the new CAP to enter into force in 2014 as initially planned, it would have required an agreement in mid-2012 or autumn 2012 in order to allow farmers to benefit from the new direct payments system. With an agreement in June 2013, therefore, it will be impossible for everything to be in place (rules of application on the reform, aid applications, websites) by October 2013. Aid applications have to be made every year around October for the following year.
The Commission must therefore set in place interim measures for 2014, which will make it possible to bridge the current provisions and the new measures. The Commission is planning to extend the main direct payment regimes (including aid for the greening of CAP aid), with the new rules not to apply until 2015.
As regards rural development, the transition process will take place in two stages: first of all, the 2014-2015 commitments must be extended with already defined implementation rules (Article 91 of Regulation 1689/2005), and then measures will be applied under the new rules (Article 95 of the new rural development regulation). The EU countries have been asked to start preparing their strategies and programmes now.
For the CMO (single common market organisation) measures, the Commission is not planning to make any changes in the interim provisions.
At the SAC (Special Agriculture Committee) meeting of Monday 14 January, a number of delegations (UK, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic and others) stressed that in this transition, the continuity of agro-environmental measures must be ensured. The Commission states that existing programmes will continue, whilst no new programmes will begin. (LC/transl.fl)