Brussels, 16/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The agricultural experts of the member states have started their discussions on the interim measures for the year 2014, as proposed by the European Commission to implement the decisions on the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP). Many players have called for changes to the Commission's text, such as: allowing investment aid, moving forward from 2014 with the entry into force of the first-hectares premium and the coupling of direct aid. We have to think simple, the Commission has warned, because this regulation needs to be ready by the start of next year.
On the sidelines of the informal meeting of the agriculture ministers of the EU in Vilnius (Lithuania) on 9 and 10 September, the experts of the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) held an exchange of views on the transitional measures for 2014 as proposed by the European Commission.
The Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of Ministers presented an initial compromise document on this text, laying emphasis on the need to conclude the discussions as quickly as possible in order to start negotiations with the European Parliament. These rules will make it possible to postpone until 2015 the entry into force of the new measures for direct payments and ensure the continuity of certain second-pillar payments (contractual measures linked to hectares or production). The European Commission has warned that it was simply an interim regulation and that too many new elements should not be introduced to it, as this would make it too complicated to implement from 2014.
Moving forward with coupling and redistributive payment
At the meeting of the SCA, many member states (Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Malta) called for support in the framework of rural development to be extended to investment aid (modernisation of holdings, installation, etc). Some countries would also like elements of the CAP reform relating to direct payments to be set in place early, from 2014. Austria and Germany (supported by France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovenia and a few others) expressed concerns about smallholdings and suggested that the redistributive payment (premium to the first certain number of hectares) should be applied from next year. The rapporteur of the European Parliament, Albert Dess, made the same proposal.
France (supported by Ireland, Finland, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, and others) also wants the authorised percentage for the coupling of aid to be increased to 6% from 2014. It would then rise to 13% in 2015.
The European Parliament has formally to adopt four regulations on the reform of the CAP on 30 September. Talks on the interim measures for 2014 between the Council and the MEPs could then begin. (LC/transl.fl)