Brussels, 17/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers were divided in Brussels on Monday 16 November over whether or not some parts of the basic legislative texts of the common agricultural policy (CAP) should be amended as early as 2016.
The CAP was reformed in 2013 and the new rules have applied only since 1 January 2015. However, calls have already been made in Council, by Germany and the so-called liberal countries, for some provisions of the reformed CAP basic acts to be amended as early as next year. Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has made it clear that he is open to amendment of the basic acts, if the Council demonstrates the need. Among the points that could potentially be put on the table for discussion, he mentions how to define active farmers, some parts of the greening of aid (ecological focus areas) and rural development programmes. The commissioner set out for the Council a series of new measures amending the CAP rules, which, indeed, had already been approved by member state experts on 11 November. These amendments, however, relate only to CAP delegated or implementing acts.
Germany argued that it was absolutely necessary to reduce red tape and, thus, if possible, amend the CAP basic acts. Germany has always been critical of the measures related to the greening of aid. Ireland is keen to see simplification measures come into force as quickly as possible. It laid great emphasis on the need for rules that make it easier for countries to effect minor changes to rural development programmes.
Italian minister Maurizio Martina is opposed to any calling into question of the basic rules. The elements that need to be simplified are, however, the definition of active farmer, greening and rural development, according to Italy. Belgium, though not opposed to the idea, remained cautious about amending the basic rules. It is of the view that it would be better to wait until the measures have been applied for a sufficiently long time to be able to evaluate them. The United Kingdom supported amending the basic acts (greening, where it feels the sanctions are disproportionate, and rural development). Sweden and Denmark also argued for changes to the basic acts.
Poland spoke of a need to change the rules that it feels to be too complex on greening and rural development.
The new Dutch minister, Martijn Van Dam, pointed out that simplification (notably with regard to greening) would be a priority of the incoming Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Netherlands is broadly in favour of amending the basic acts of the CAP in order to simplify the rules.
For France, no link between MFF and simplified CAP. France was steadfastly opposed to such a premature change to the basic acts, emphasising the need for a stable regulatory framework for farmers. Additionally, it did not accept the link being made by the Commission between the mid-term review of the EU's multi-annual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period and simplification of the CAP. France does not want to see useful features of the common organisation of markets (CMO) - in particular, marketing standards - dismantled. The Spanish minister, Isabel Garcia Tejerina, also rejected any linkage of the MFF after the mid-term review and a simplified CAP and opposed any amendment of the basic acts. Spain argued for the rules on greening and rural development to be simplified.
New technical package on simplification. Hogan set out for ministers the very latest simplification measures which will come into force from 2016 (and which for the most part will be approved at expert level).
The integrated administration and control system (IACS) will contain preliminary preventive checks on application for aid. The Commission proposes that national administrations be authorised to identify problems with aid applications so that, even beyond the 35 days following the final request date, farmers will be able to make corrections without incurring penalties. Further simplification of the IACS implementing act are proposed: - reducing the number of on-site checks from 2016: when error rates are below 2% and countries have kept their land parcel identification systems (LPIS) up to date over the previous three years, it will be possible, for some regimes, to reduce on-site checks from 5% to 1%; - for rural development programmes, the Commission has proposed bringing in management rules for a system of collective claims, in particular, with regard to agri-environmental or climate-related (such as, installing solar panels) measures; - farmers will be able to amend their declarations on the use of agricultural parcels for the purposes of greening.
Simplified provisions can make voluntary coupled support simple, swift and effective, especially in times of price volatility, said Hogan. National administrations will be able to transfer money between the various measures. Member states will be able to vary aid within a single sector to take advantage of economies of scale, for example, to provide extra assistance to small-scale farmers. The current regulation imposes a unit rate for aid. The final measure in this area is to simplify arrangements for the notification by the member states of this coupled aid.
Greater flexibility will be given to countries to determine which legal persons can lay claim to the status of young farmers.
With regard to market measures, simpler rules are planned for public intervention and private storage, import and export licences and producer organisations (particularly in the fruit and vegetables sector). Acts relating to marketing standards, aid schemes for the wine sector, fruit and vegetables, commercial mechanisms (export refunds), carcass grading and member state notifications are likely to follow. The goal sought by Commissioner Hogan is reduction of CMO acts from 200 to 40. Lastly, the commissioner has asked his staff to look at the proportionality of administrative penalties, an issue that is of great concern to farmers. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)