Members of the European Parliament's agriculture committee once again opposed, on Tuesday 9 October, the Commission's proposed cuts to the common agricultural policy (CAP) budget after 2020 (see EUROPE 12084).
In adopting its opinion on the proposals for the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, the European Parliament's agriculture committee believes that the challenges facing farmers, such as unfair trade practices, increased market concentration, free trade agreements and climate issues, would justify an increase in the budget, not cuts.
The 2021-2027 CAP budget should therefore at least be maintained at the current 2014-2020 level in real terms, say MEPs. The Commission expects a 5% reduction in CAP 2021-2027 appropriations. EU member states should increase their contribution to the EU budget to 1.3% of their gross national income (GNI), they say (see other article).
MEPs welcome the Commission's proposal to review the functioning of the agricultural crisis reserve, including the possibility of carrying over unused funds from one year to the next, but reject the idea of financing it with money from the direct payments envelope. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)