Brussels, 05/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The “central” issue of the new session following the summer break is finalising the adoption of texts on the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP), following the political agreement on this dossier on 26 June. This was confirmed by Dacian Ciolos, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, at a meeting with the press on Thursday 5 September. A few points related to the multi-annual financial framework remain to be resolved, such as the degressivity of aid (reduction in direct payments for large holdings), transfers of funds between first pillar (direct aid) and second pillar (rural development), the rate of co-funding for rural development measures and envelopes for direct aid and rural development. Discussions will also be held between the institutions in the coming weeks and it is hoped that this can be sorted out fairly quickly.
The Commissioner calls on the other institutions to reach a common position as quickly as possible, not changing what features in the political agreement. At the Agriculture Council of mid-July of this year, the ministers expressed their opposition to reopening the agreement of 26 June on the reform of the CAP (see EUROPE 10888). Once an agreement has been reached on the subjects related to the MAFF, it will be possible to carry out the formal adoption of the legislative texts, the Commissioner explained.
Having met the European Parliament rapporteur on the subject, the Commissioner will discuss the timetable to resolve the outstanding points with the Lithuanian Presidency in Vilnius this weekend. The informal meeting of the Agriculture Council will take place from 8 to 11 September in the Lithuanian capital. Ciolos does not believe that trialogues will be necessary on the outstanding issues, just exchanges of opinions between the institutions.
Degressivity. This is the hottest topic. The Council is planning to set at 5% the maximum rate for the reduction of direct payments above €150,000, with a possible derogation for countries which use more than 5% of redistributed payments. The MEPs are in favour of a reduction of at least 15% for direct aid above €150,000 and a cut of at least 25% for sums in excess of €300,000. Derogations would be granted to countries which use more than 15% of the national limit for redistributed payments. Ciolos said that he hoped that it would be possible to agree on the figures. He was prepared to support an agreement which could be reached between the Council and the Parliament. In addition, Ciolos feels that the Council's lack of ambition on the upper limit for aid can be offset, at least partly, by introducing additional payments for the first 30 hectares (more is given to certain farmers by cutting the largest payments).
Rural development. The Commissioner stressed that he hoped that the Parliament would accept the proposals discussed with the Council. The funding percentage still has to be discussed. He said that there are also differences of opinion over the transfers of credits between pillars, and he hoped it would be possible to reach agreement.
Ciolos hopes that the institutions of the EU will manage to conclude their talks on the outstanding subjects quickly, in such a way as to respect the timetable: November adoption by the Council of the legislative texts on the reform, then approval of the reform by the Parliament at first reading towards the end of the autumn. In parallel, the Directorate General for Agriculture of the Commission has been working since the summer on drafting the implementing legislation. This is expected to be ready in early 2014. (LC/transl.fl)