European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, speaking on the sidelines of a conference on rural development in Cork, Ireland, on Monday 5 September, said that his services were looking at proposals to amend income stabilising instruments.
These instruments, already contained within rural development programmes, have not been used by the member states, even though they might be useful in these times of crisis on the agricultural markets.
Hogan said that his services were working with other relevant Commission directorates general on changes that could be brought to the financial instruments and tools to stabilise farmers’ incomes so that they are easier to use and more attractive for rural development policy. The goal is to deliver better income stabilising tools, the commissioner said, adding that proposals would be brought forward shortly.
Hogan also gave his reaction to the results of the meeting of 20 EU agriculture ministers, organised by France in Chambord on Friday 2 September (see EUROPE 11615). In their conclusions, the ministers highlighted the need for improvement of this type of instrument. “One, two, three of four, it doesn’t matter how many pillars the common agricultural policy (CAP) has. What’s important is to have a sound programme that meets the objectives”, the commissioner said.
The Cork conference will conclude with the adoption, on Tuesday 6 September, of a new declaration on rural development (20 years after the first). Progress has been made in the meantime but more needs to be done, Hogan said. He highlighted, for example, that only 25% of people in rural areas have access to fast or ultra-fast broadband, compared with 70% in urban areas. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)