Brussels, 12/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is preparing to give its representatives a mandate to begin negotiation on common agricultural policy (CAP) reform with member states, for the first time as co-legislator. The aim is to reach a final political agreement by June this year on the basis of a reduction in credits allocated to farming in the context of the multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 (see EUROPE 10782).
The negotiating mandate is based on a position concerning four reports - direct payments, market organisation, rural development, and management and follow-up of CAP - that the parliamentary committee on agriculture adopted in January (see EUROPE 10771). According to the committee, the reformed CAP must share out direct aid more equitably, make environmental measures binding but flexible and provide more help for farmers to address market challenges.
Among the most disputed questions are the capping at €300,000 of aid paid to farmers, as suggested by the Commission, given that 80% of financial aid goes to only 20% of the farms. The S&D Group would agree to a reduction of the ceiling to €200,000. The Greens/EFA maintain that nothing will change in the distribuiton of aid to farmers. Another controversial question is that regarding the transparency of of Community funding. On Tuesday 12 March, during the plenary debate, Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (S&D, Portugal) evoked a legal difficulty in this area which divides Social Democrats although they are in favour of transparency for the use of public money.
Recalling that adoption of mandates by the EP does not constitute the beginning of a negotiation phase, Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos welcomed the fact that the two co-legislator European institutions are in agreement on the essential principles. He listed key subjects for reform: - equity in the distribution of aid to farmers, mainly through the capping of aid and redistribution within one and the same coutntry (“internal convergence”) for which a minimal obligation would be necessary; - the question of setting up young farmers and the maintaining of agricultural activity throughout Community territory; - “greening” of aid as an instrument to combat climate change through making 30% of direct aid subject to three environmental practices (crop diversification, maintaining of permanent pastureland, the creation of areas of environmental interest); - and transparency regarding beneficiaries. (MB/transl.jl)