The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has developed initial draft conclusions on the future of CAP after 2020, whereby national delegations acknowledge that, “despite its many merits, the CAP could still be improved and its current added value enhanced by making the policy greener, simpler and more results-oriented”.
The document was discussed by national experts on Monday 5 March at the Special Committee on Agriculture. It will be discussed again on Monday 12 March. A finalised version will then be adopted on Monday 19 March at the meeting of EU28 agriculture ministers. The European Commission, for its part, is to adopt formal legislative proposals in early June in the wake of those on the post-2020 financial framework.
In its draft, the Bulgarian Presidency underlines that the model for implementation of CAP, as suggested by the Commission, which grants more wriggle room to national administrations, “must provide real simplification and a reduction in the administrative burden”, not only for farmers but also for the national or regional administrations. Also, the indicators, which the Commission will set in place for following up implementation, should be “simple, realistic, easily quantifiable and controllable”.
The Bulgarian text, however, also expresses the concern felt by member states regarding the “potential fragmentation of CAP” along national borders. The EU28 therefore call on the Commission to draft a “truly common agricultural policy”, to ensure equitable competition conditions throughout the EU, and to maintain the integrity of the internal market.
The draft conclusions welcome the Commission’s intention to explore instruments aimed at making direct payments equitable and at targeting them on real farmers, by placing emphasis on those who actively practice farming to earn a living, as well as on young farmers and small and medium-sized farms.
As regards the crisis reserve introduced in 2013 to face major market upheavals, which has never been activated because of its complexity, the member states consider that “reflection is needed to improve the idea in order to make it easier to use”.
Member states would also like to see “simple programming documents, allowing a certain amount of flexibility of conception, and for later modifications”.
Finally, emphasis was placed on the need to foresee a “sufficiently long” transition period that will allow member states to adjust to post-2020 CAP rules and to develop corresponding programming documents.
After the fashion of the European Commission communication which voluntarily left all the budgetary aspects to one side pending proposals on the multiannual financial framework, due on 2 May (see EUROPE 11915), the draft conclusions do not contain any reference to controversial elements of discussion such as the ceiling for and digressive nature of direct payments or greater convergence of support levels between member states. At this stage, such aspects come under the heads of state and government. (Original version in French by Antonin Garnier)