EU agriculture ministers meeting up on Monday 11 December in Brussels did not completely oppose the Communication on the future of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adopted on 29 November by the European Commission (see EUROPE 11922) but their response to it was very mixed and they were particularly concerned about the risk of the regulation becoming more complicated.
The main innovation in this proposal seeks to confer more responsibility on the member states for the application of this policy, particularly with regard to greening measures via a new delivery model that would allow the member states or regions to establish strategic plans validated by the Commission. This mechanism, however, has raised concerns about the possible re-nationalisation of the CAP.
Spain, Austria and Greece, and to a lesser extent, Italy, Poland, France and Hungary have expressed strong reservations about this proposal and are not just afraid of it destroying the rules for a level playing field but are also concerned that it significantly complicates implementation of legislation by the member states and farmers.
Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, however, supported this proposal. Ireland and Germany also appeared open to it but a little more cautious. The member states are therefore awaiting clarification from the Commission.
The Vice President of the European Commission, Jyrki Kaitainen, who was replacing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, on a visit to Buenos Aires for a WTO ministerial meeting, was keen to point out that, “no one, neither Commission, nor the member states, is in favour of a re-nationalisation of the CAP”. He did, however, justify, “the greening because the way in which it is currently implemented is not working… the single size does not suit everyone… if we want to reach our objectives in greening we therefore need instruments that allow for certain flexibility from one member state to another".
Several countries such as France, Ireland and Italy have been keen to emphasise their opposition to a possible national co-financing of direct payments. This option is envisaged by some people, particularly at the Commission, as a means of reducing the Community budget for the CAP. Some member states (Lithuania, Greece, Finland, Slovakia and Austria) in this regard, highlight the need for sufficient funding for a future CAP.
Others, such as Denmark in the Netherlands, in particular, have expressed their opposition to the convergence to the level of aid between member states and the cap on aid.
Belgium, Austria, Finland, Poland and Croatia have also pointed out that coupled payments (direct aid linked to production) were very important.
Finally, several delegations – Belgium, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, Ireland and Italy, regretted that the communication on the future CAP did not sufficiently highlight market measures or risk management tools.
During the customary meeting during a backdrop to the Agricultural Council with the Estonian Presidency, Copa-Cogeca (the EU agricultural organisations and cooperatives) called on the member states to support a “CAP with a solid budget”. It also called for the CAP “to remain a common policy without any additional re-nationalisation”. (Original version in French)