“I want to make it very clear: I see a strong role for rural development policy in the CAP (common agricultural policy) in the future. Rural development is crucial to meeting citizens’ expectations and for the development of a living countryside”, stated European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan in Brussels on Wednesday 22 March.
The commissioner was taking part in a workshop organised by Copa and Cogeca (farming and agri-cooperative organisations in the EU), CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers) and the CEPF (Confederation of European Forest Owners) discussing how to achieve the goals of the Cork 2.0 Declaration, adopted six months ago (see EUROPE 11717).
Hogan said that the recommendations of the Cork Declaration would be included in the forthcoming proposals (expected at the end of the year) on the reform of the CAP. He promised, however, to implement straight away all that could be implemented. He underlined that the Commission is working on a performance-based support model, shifting the focus from compliance to results.
Copa and Cogeca say that the Cork Declaration highlights the importance of investing in rural areas, innovation, growth and employment, generational renewal and simplifying the rules. MEPs Paolo de Castro (S&D, Italy), Elisabeth Kostinger (EPP, Austria) and Jan Huitema (ALDE, Netherlands) took part in the discussions. (Original version in French buy Lionel Changeur)