Brussels, 02/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is continuing work on simplifying common agricultural policy (CAP) rules, Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan stated in a speech to the European Economic and Social Committee on 1 July.
It is Hogan's intention to bring forward a package of measures after the summer recess amending CAP implementing and delegated acts.
The package will cover important aspects of the direct payments system, such as young farmers and coupled support, Hogan said. He will urge member states and the European Parliament to back these changes so that they become applicable as early as possible. The changes could apply from aid claims for 2016 or 2017. The Commission will also continue to work on greening. The commissioner restated the Commission's commitment to review the ecological focus area (EFA) rules after the first year of application. “And I will not limit myself to review only EFA rules”, he stated. “If there are other greening-related aspects that can be simplified, I will do so.” Hogan intends to present his proposals on simplifying some greening rules early in 2016, to be applicable by the end of claim year 2017.
The Commission also intends to consider whether, at the appropriate time, changes to the basic acts might be possible to further simplify the CAP. (Lionel Changeur)