Brussels, 30/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Brussels on Monday 28 January, EU agriculture ministers supported the “roadmap” of the Irish Presidency for reaching political agreement by the end of June on the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP). This is subject to the condition of the heads of state and government reaching a compromise on the financial framework of the Union for the period 2014-2020 at their summit of 7 and 8 February. Many of the ministers called on the European Commission rapidly to specify the interim provisions it plans to adopt for 2014. Indeed, various elements of the reform - mainly the new direct payments regime - may not be concretely implemented until 2015.
Presenting his EU opposite numbers with his “roadmap” to reach an agreement between the Council and the European Parliament (EP) on CAP reform by the end of June, Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Agriculture, stressed the “constructive attitude” of the competent EP committee, which has already voted on its amendments. If the European Council of 7 and 8 February is able to reach a compromise on the Community budget for 2014-2020, the aim, he confirmed, is to obtain a common Council position by the end of March. Then, Simon Coveney went on, if the Parliament takes position at its March plenary, the “trialogue” between the Council, EP and Commission can start in April with a view to reaching a political agreement between the institutions by the end of June (at the Agriculture Council to start on 24 June in Luxembourg). In order to respect this deadline, the member states must “move from fixed positions to positions of compromise”, the Irish minister insisted.
New direct payments regime in 2015
While they were able to get behind Coveney's “roadmap”, most of the European agriculture ministers voiced concerns over the transition period planned for 2014, even in the event that a compromise is reached at the end of June on the reform of the CAP. On this point, “I will present you with concrete elements once an agreement on the budget is in place”, Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture, told them.
Basically, the Commissioner explained, the new direct payments regime will not be able to come into force until 2015, including the greening of first-pillar aid, internal convergence (in other words, the end of historical references and moving to aid on the basis of number of hectares) and the support regime for young farmers. It will take time for the payment agencies to adapt their procedures. The current provisions on this will, therefore, remain in place in 2014, with the exception of those to be included in a European Council compromise on the multi-annual financial framework of the EU, essentially the redistribution of this aid among the member states (external convergence), according to the document submitted in November by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. Certain elements on the redistribution of aid between countries may therefore apply from 2014, if the European Council should decide to implement this.
The new market measures, including those laid down in the event of crisis in an agricultural sector, would be applicable from January 2014.
Lastly, as regards the rural development programmes, the issue of greatest concern to the ministers, certain provisions may be extended by one year in 2014, in particular agri-environmental measures, whilst others may be decided upon by the Commission on a temporary basis. The Commission's aim is to avoid a legal gap for certain provisions. The Commission may decide to use delegated acts to bring in temporary measures if required.
Other priorities. In addition to the negotiations on CAP reform, the Irish Presidency of the Council plans to continue work with the European Parliament on bringing the current legal framework for agriculture into line with the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon. The member states must also define policy guidelines (on the basis of a report by the European Commission) on rules for organic production.
The Presidency also intends to move forward work on the re-examination of the entire raft of measures on food hygiene and official controls, and on the new legislation on animal health. It will also seek agreements at first reading on the dossiers relating to non-commercial movements of companion animals, the electronic identification of cattle and the voluntary labelling of beef meat.
Lastly, the Commission will present the Council with a communication on a “new forestry strategy” in May. (LC/transl.fl)