Brussels, 04/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - In its 2016 work programme approved on Tuesday 27 October, the European Commission flags up its intention to use the review of the EU's 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework to better target the spending and simplify the rules of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
Next year, the mid-term review of the 2014-2020 financial framework “will address how better to target funding on the priorities the EU faces” and also “look for ways to further orientate the EU budget towards results and simplify the applicable rules (REFIT) e.g. for the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)”.
The Commission states, too, that, “given developments in the agricultural sector, we will bring forward our report on the functioning of the milk market already to next year”.
“The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP) with the United States remains a top priority for 2016”, the Commission's work programme further notes, giving assurances that the agreement will be “fair and balanced”. The Commission adds that, next year, it “aims to see the provisional application of a number of new agreements, including those ones with Canada and with several African, Caribbean and Pacific regions”.
The Commission will also propose a strategy on “An EU budget focused on results” to ensure that future financing has a stronger focus on achieving results. More can be done to facilitate the use of innovative financial instruments, and there is considerable scope for simplification (in particular, in agriculture, the European structural and investment funds and further efforts on research), performance-enhancement and measures linking effectiveness of funds to sound economic governance, the work programme says.
In 2016, the Commission will bring forward “an effort-sharing proposal for sectors outside the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), such as buildings, agriculture, and the de-carbonisation of transport”. (Original version on French by Lionel Changeur)