Many EU agriculture ministers criticised the Commission's proposals on Monday 19 November in Brussels for the new control model for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support after 2020. They also called for the modernisation and adaptation of market measures.
After discussing the 'strategic plans' portion (see EUROPE 12117) last October, the Agriculture Ministers discussed the other strands of the post-2020 CAP proposal: - the common organisation of agricultural products (CMO) and the horizontal regulation (management and financing).
Market measures. Most ministers called for a review of market measures to make them more responsive, given the crises and price volatility. In particular, France and Spain have requested the establishment of a system of alert thresholds below which the Commission should take action. "Safety nets must be maintained" (market measures), said the Polish minister in particular. Portugal has called for a modernisation of private storage aid and intervention. "Market instruments should not be revised", the Dutch minister said. The automatic use of intervention must be abolished, said the delegation.
Portugal, Poland and the Baltic countries have called for stronger measures to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain.
Controls. The Commission has proposed, with regard to controls, to move from a compliance system to a performance system. However, a majority of countries (including Slovakia) considered that this system would result in additional controls and unjustified sanctions (suspension of payments). Only Denmark and Sweden clearly supported the Commission's control proposals. Germany and France agreed on the principle of the new regime, but not on its modalities. In addition, many countries considered that the annual performance clearance process could lead to an additional administrative burden at national level. The Netherlands called for a simpler control system, "with more flexibility" for countries.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, defended his control model (reduction of controls). "It will take fewer officials to check the rules", he said.
Crisis reserve. A majority of countries supported the new crisis reserve proposed by the Commission. It suggests a new multiannual agricultural reserve of at least €400 million. The reserve will be replenished by carrying forward to 2021 the amounts of the CAP crisis reserve available in 2020. Several countries considered that this envelope will be insufficient to help farmers in the event of a crisis.
The Agriculture Council will continue its work on the post-2020 CAP. The Austrian Presidency has intensified work on the dossier, but it seems impossible for the ministers to reach a common position by the end of the year. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)