Brussels, 29/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Wallonia is to ask the European Commission for a derogation in order to be able to allocate up to 20% of coupled aid to the stock-breeding sector.
At the Libramont agricultural fair, Walloon Minister for Agriculture,Carlo Di Antonio took part in a roundtable on Friday 26 July on the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP) 2014-2020. He presented three of the concrete tools to be implemented in Wallonia in the framework of the CAP.
Encouraging young people to get into farming. Today, just 3% of all farms in Wallonia are run by people under the age of 30! Helping young farmers to set up is a priority for Di Antonio. For the first time, a proportion of the direct payments envelope will be allocated specifically and as a priority to helping young people get into farming. “We will go to the maximum of the authorised limit”, he said. He will also implement a specific plank for young farmers, notably via investment aid (second pillar, rural development).
First hectares premium. The Walloon Agriculture Minister will grant specific support to the first certain number of hectares of each farm. In so doing, he hopes to promote a redistribution of aid to small farms and family-run farms in Wallonia. The minister believes that the work unit should be better rewarded. This possibility of redistributive payment can be seen as an alternative to placing an upper limit on aid. The value per hectare may not be more than 65% of the regional average and no more than 30% of the regional envelope may be earmarked for it.
Coupling of aid used as much as possible. Di Antonio argues in favour of coupled aid specifically targeting structurally struggling sectors, in order to maintain activity, but also making sure that there is a link to the ground. Coupled aid, which corresponds today to the suckler-cow premium, may be offered up to 13% of the first-pillar budget. Di Antonio will request a derogation from the Commission to allow him to authorise coupling of up to 20% for stock breeders in Wallonia. An additional 2%, specifically earmarked for leguminous vegetables crops, is also planned.
“Despite an unfavourable budgetary context, we have been able to secure the flexibility we need to implement this new CAP. The possibilities for action and the way we can use the money available will allow us to ensure that the sectors which are struggling more and more can be helped”, the minister explained (our translation). He welcomed the fact that the new CAP takes account of regional specific characteristics (regional, rather than national, implementation) . (LC/transl.fl)