At the Special Agriculture Connote (SAC) on 10 September, the member states pursued a debate on strategic plans under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) post-2020 (see EUROPE 12085, 12063).
The Austrian Presidency of the Council presented the SAC with a report on the state of play on strategic plans relating to the CAP. It also presented two questions (the first on elements to be taken up at EU level and those at member state level, and the other on conditionality) ahead of the Agriculture Council in October.
Two other states of play will be presented at SAC meeting on 24 September and 1 October on other subjects than the strategic plans (including the common organisation of the markets).
The report mentions progress made at technical level on the strategic plans. Most delegations at the SAC felt it was a good report, but repeated their criticisms of the proposals: - over-detailed plans that did not allow simplification of the rules; - administrative burdens arising from the controls every year; - the need for derogations for small farmers in terms of conditionality; - too many delegated acts.
The presidency foresees a good rhythm of work on the post-2020 CAP, but no detailed objectives. Some delegations stressed the need for time to analyse the CAP proposals. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)