Brussels, 04/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - At the meeting of its Praesidia in Riga on Wednesday 3 June, Copa warned against a mid-term review of the common agricultural policy (CAP) following the recent reform.
Farmers need stability to enable them to plan ahead until 2020, EU farm leaders said. Copa President Albert Jan Maat told European agriculture ministers: “We are against having a mid-term review of the CAP as many farmers are still struggling to get to grips with the current reform package agreed only last year. We nevertheless welcome Commissioner Hogan's CAP simplification plans which the Latvian Presidency made a lot of progress on. We hope the Luxembourg Presidency will continue this action to cut red tape that strangles farmers”.
He urged the European Commission and the Council to push back the deadline of 15 June for applications for direct payments in countries, such as Italy, where this is necessary. Advance payments must also be made in time, especially in regions hit hard by the Russian embargo, Maat argued. (Lionel Changeur)