Direct payments should go only to active farmers, in line with clear criteria and objectives and based on agricultural activity and the provision of public goods, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) recommends in its opinion, adopted on 23 May, on the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
The opinion drafted by Slovakia's Jarmila Dubravská calls for strong CAP funding and specific support for young farmers. The EESC also calls for a strong and well-funded CAP, with the Commission proposing to reduce the agriculture budget (by 5%) between 2021 and 2027.
The EESC does not support member states being able to transfer funds from Pillar II (rural development) to Pillar I (direct aid and market expenditure). Instead, it calls for a “reasonable level of co-financing of the second pillar for all member states”. The EESC opposes any renationalisation of CAP spending and considers that this policy should complement a global food policy. Finally, the EESC proposes simplifications to several areas: - complete revision of the control system at the level of the farm; - better use of new technologies. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)