Brussels, 04/07/13 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 July, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, presented the main points in the new common agricultural policy (CAP) (see EUROPE 10877) to the Committee of the Regions (CoR) plenary session. He welcomed the fact that, as of 2014, a clear signal would be sent out to farmers and welcomed the “political compromise” which, for the first time, includes agriculture's regional dimension. He also said that “CAP reform includes a sufficient level of flexibility to adapt to local and regional specificities”.
Emilia Müller (EPP) was delighted that this “goes in the right direction and respects subsidiarity”. The same views were expressed by the Liberals and Agnès Durdu spoke of “a breakthrough, a step in the right direction”. She did, however, highlight the questions still pending: capping payments, flexibility between pillars and crisis reserve. She said that “we would have preferred more liberalisation” and was concerned that reform could create a feeling that Europe what protecting the biggest farmers: “With the approach of the European elections, we have perhaps missed the opportunity to send a positive signal to our fellow citizens”. Ciolos provided assurances that the system for redistribution would guarantee more fairness between small and big farmers. With regard to questions that would have to be treated later, he said that he regretted the Council's position and promised to “clarify these points as soon as possible, now that there is an agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework”.
Replying to René Souchon (PES), he said that he was surprised by the use of the term “repatriation” in the context of CAP reform, which leaves several areas within the remit of member states. He argued that “a policy is common if the rules and budget our common. If there is no flexibility, however, we are in danger of losing sight of reality. In the Europe of 28 members, Brussels cannot impose everything”. The president of the Auvergne region also asked what measures could be used to mitigate the negative effects of the scrapping of milk quotas. The leader of the British delegation at the CoR, Gordon Keymer (ECR) called for the scrapping of all quotas in an effort to make farming more efficient and criticised the fact that sugar quotas would not be scrapped before 2017. He said that this was bad for consumers and producers because it increased prices for everybody.
Another point in the debate was rural development zones. CoR vice president, Mercedes Bresso (PES), expressed concern about the possibility of transferring between 15 and 25% of funds from the second pillar (rural development) to the first pillar (direct payments): “If we concentrate resources on agriculture, we will not create a genuine development policy for these territories”. These opinions were also shared by the mayor of Lubianka, Jerzy Zajakala (EA), who ironically added that “obviously, this is not your favourite subject”. Ciolos, however, argued: “I was the first to take a position when the Council called for the second pillar budget to be reduced and out of the six priorities retained for rural development, two go beyond the agricultural sector”. He called on the CoR to play its role to the full and said that on “many points, the ball is in your court to ensure appropriate implementation of this political agreement”. (LM/transl.fl)