On Thursday 2 February, the European Commission will launch a three-month public consultation on the common agricultural policy (CAP) after 2020, the year when the European Union’s current multiannual financial framework (MFF) comes to an end (see EUROPE 11714). Then, at the end of 2017, it will adopt a communication on the future of the CAP, supplementing the proposals on the post-2020 MFF.
The Commission will make a 20-page consultation document available online. The document, “Monitoring and Simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy”, which EUROPE has seen, is divided into five parts. A) About You B) Agriculture, Rural Areas and the CAP Today C) Objective and Governance D) Agriculture, Rural Areas and the CAP Tomorrow and finally E) Modernisation and Simplification.
Numerous challenges to be met. Section B begins with the challenges for agriculture and rural areas and the best political tools to meet these challenges (which include environmental challenges). Six challenges are set out by the Commission (and respondents have to choose what they see as the three most important): a fair standard of living for farmers; adaptation to consumer/societal trends; pressures on the environment and natural resources; climate change (mitigation and adaptation); lack of jobs and growth in rural areas; uneven territorial development throughout the EU.
The Commission lists available measures to address these challenges and calls for the most useful to be selected: decoupled payments; coupled support; rural development environmental and climate actions; rural development investments in physical and human capital; trade measures; market safety nets; risk management schemes; support for integration into producer organisations; regulatory approaches (such as standards and rules).
The “Objective and Governance” section contains a questionnaire on the challenges to be faced with migration.
Unfair trading practices. In the “Agriculture, Rural Areas and the CAP Tomorrow” section, the Commission asks stakeholders about the need for direct income support; the effect of other (non-agricultural) policy impacts on incomes; whether agricultural policy should deliver more environmental impacts; supporting innovation and restructuring with targeted investments; and improving farmers’ position in the value chains (including in relation to unfair trading practices- see EUROPE 11699). Questions are also asked about improving export performance.
Modernisation and simplification. The Commission asks if the CAP requires further simplification measures – a subject that is already occupying the services of Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan. Stakeholders will also be asked about the need to reduce overlaps between the second pillar (rural development) and CAP measures, and reduced inspections through better use of data and technology. In a speech delivered in Austria on 30 January, Hogan merely indicated that the new CAP has to ensure: - greater market resilience; - more sustainable agricultural production; - and progress on generational renewal. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)