Fears of repatriation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been voiced by farmers and politicians in the wake of publication of the European Commission’s proposals on the post-2020 CAP (see EUROPE 12032).
The worry for MEPs Michel Dantin (EPP, France) and Éric Andrieu (S&D, France) is that, under the guise of allowing states more freedom in allocating aid, the Commission is initiating a form of “partial repatriation” of the oldest of Community policies.
Angélique Delahaye (EPP, France) also argues that the proposed new architecture “will lead us to repatriation of the CAP where the Commission will simply set out the major environmental goals, with each member state free to decide how it achieves them”. She said that the new greening measures, transformed into “eco-schemes”, could vary from zero to 100% of direct aid depending on the member states, when, under current rules, they are capped at 30%.
Legislative delay. She is of the view, also, that the legislative process will be delayed by the timing of the European elections in May 2019. “At best, we’ll manage to hold a vote in committee, discussions will have to continue in the new parliament.”
The EU farming and agri-cooperative organisations, Copa and Cogeca, warn that the proposals could “erode farmers’ incomes”. “It is vital to ensure that there is no renationalisation of the CAP, and it is backed up by a stronger budget”, they also argue. Copa President Joachim Rukwied believes the proposals would result in a cut in direct payments. “We oppose any capping or degressivity of payments as proposed by the Commission”, he made clear. Additionally, Copa cannot accept that such a high percentage of direct payments (40%) be ring-fenced towards climate change objectives under the first pillar.
The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) welcomes the emphasis put on young farmers in the CAP’s objectives but is “firmly against any renationalisation of the CAP”. The Commission “has persisted in its desire to propose a strong renationalisation and bureaucratisation of the Common Agricultural Policy”, regrets the think-tank Farm Europe.
The Commission expects a 5% decrease, at today’s prices, in CAP funding in the European Union’s 2021-2027 budget, with an envelope of €365 billion over the seven years. At constant prices (taking inflation into account), a cut of the order of 15% seems likely.
The European Federation of Origin Wines (EFOW) is reasonably satisfied with the proposals on “the management of quality wines and the improvement of their protection against usurpation by products in transit in the EU and on the internet”. It welcomes the new instruments being made available to quality wine producers to deal with environmental challenges and climate change. The concern is about the level of funding for national wine programmes which are to be maintained in member states’ future strategic plans.
Environmental NGOs are disappointed by the proposals. Greenpeace fears they could spell disaster for the environment and protests against the 25% reduction at constant prices in rural development funding. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)