Esther Herranz Garcia (EPP, Spain), who is rapporteur on future strategic plans, voiced criticism in Brussels on Tuesday 10 July when speaking of the proposals put forward with regards Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020 (see EUROPE 12058).
After the three rapporteurs on the CAP post-2020 package (see EUROPE 12057) were appointed, Parliament's committee on agriculture held an exchange of views on the Commission’s proposals, which came under some criticism.
Esther Herranz Garcia underlined that it was not a question of a slight reform but of “substantial changes”. This leaves “much doubt and many unknowns”, she said.
She denounced the “vague” strategy and budget cuts (5% drop in agricultural funding 2021-2027). She took the view that the proposal on the strategic plans was “hidden co-funding” of CAP, therefore “renationalisation” of the policy. She also criticised the overlapping when it comes to CAP greening measures and the rise in demands concerning aid conditionality. She said she wondered what the effect of aid capping - advocated by the Commission (but refused by several EU states) - would be and said that the plan for degression of aid (phasing out of aid) should be “taken with a pinch of salt”.
“We are not satisfied” with the proposal, the rapporteur commented after remarks by other committee members. The producer is at the heart of our work, she promised.
The parliamentary rapporteur on common market organisation (CMO), Eric Andrieu (S&D, France), said that the proposal, which above all concerns the wine sector and quality products, is “quite positive”. General speaking, he regretted that the Commission does not provide for anything new for “managing markets in times of crisis”. He will put forward amendments on this, including on market transparency.
Ulrike Müller (ALDE, Germany), who is responsible for the text on funding and the managing of expenditure, asked how it will be possible to have a single payment body per country (governance structure). She had doubts about the effectiveness of the simplification measures proposed, especially when it comes to controls. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)