The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must address the challenges of climate change and water management, in the view of most European agriculture ministers, meeting informally in the Maltese capital, Valletta, on Tuesday 23 May. They were, however, divided over the tools to be used and where to draw the money needed for initiatives on water and the climate.
Maltese Secretary of State for Agriculture Roderick Galdes, setting out the main points of the debate for the press, said that ministers had underlined the importance of a “solid framework” for water management and tackling climate change.
European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan stated that sight must not be lost of international goals (climate and sustainable development).
Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella argued that water had to be managed properly and that agriculture had to be viable and sustainable. The CAP water management objectives must be aligned with the goals of the framework directive on water, he stated, a remark taken up by the Maltese Presidency of the Council and by Commissioner Hogan.
In the debate, Germany argued for a strong second pillar (rural development) and for research partnerships. It is of the opinion that water management and climate measures should come under the second pillar of the CAP. Climate change increases vulnerability, it added, making the point that the EU already has sufficient instruments, “even though there is room for improvement”. Germany broached the issue of private insurance schemes, which could be useful, and also of mutual funds, though these should remain voluntary, it opined.
Smarter CAP. The Netherlands made the point that agriculture was one of the causes of pollution but it also helped combat climate change. The minister argued that what is required is a climate-smart CAP. The Netherlands made reference to private agricultural risk management schemes. It backed a market-oriented CAP.
Latvia called for an adequate funding level for the CAP and direct payments, and mooted convergence of aid. The Czech Republic highlighted, notably, water pollution.
A smarter CAP that makes use of new technologies is needed, said the Irish minister, Michael Creed. The new CAP must invest in research, with the results shared among all the countries of the EU. The second pillar of the CAP needs to have sufficient resources, Ireland said. The Spanish minister highlighted that climate change did not affect all the countries of the EU equally. The countries of the south will be hit harder and risk management measures need to reduce volatility, she said.
The United Kingdom highlighted innovation and data gathering and set out its national measures to address the threat of flooding. It also made reference to risk management tools.
Italy emphasises first pillar of CAP. Italy laid emphasis on water collection and management infrastructure projects to help farmers. It argued for stronger risk management tools covering both weather conditions and price volatility on the markets. The Italian minister asked for these risk management measures to be made compulsory and shifted from the second (rural development) pillar of the CAP to the first, quite a revolutionary request. France’s previous agriculture minister had spoken in the past of a possible third pillar but this idea was not mentioned by the French delegation on this occasion. The French spoke about risk management tools and the need for a CAP that strengthens agricultural resilience.
Precision farming was mentioned by a number of delegations, including Italy’s.
At a meeting with a handful of journalists in Valletta on Monday 22 May, Commissioner Hogan stated that water quality and water quantity are “huge issues in the southern countries” and are also “growing issues in many of the other member states”. Financial support through rural development programmes for irrigation could be up to 60% of all water uses in some member states, he said. He ran through the initiatives in this area: - a budget of €439 million for biodiversity, soil and water management under rural development measures; - a Commission working document on sustainable management of water published on 28 April; - the global forum on food and agriculture last January emphasised the importance of water.
Hogan wants to promote the use of the European fund for strategic investment (EFSI) and other EU and national funds to leverage funds for major projects, such as the Danube Delta and Valencia in Spain.
The Commission also wants to review the cross-compliance checklist and to revise farm advisory systems to pay more attention to rural development measures in irrigation and water management, especially in the southern European member states. In addition, the Commission wants to set up an EU agriculture and innovation hub with the help of the Joint Research Centre to explore the potential of the EU’s satellite technology and research. The commissioner spoke of the Prima project in the Mediterranean countries and in North Africa.
Copa President Thomas Magnusson made clear to ministers the importance of a strong CAP with a strong budget behind it, not only for farmers but also for society. He stressed the need to maintain direct payments to farmers under the CAP to help them meet the increasing challenges of climate change. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)