Experts from EU Member States criticised on 26 November the complexity of the ‘performance evaluation’ component of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals.
The Austrian Presidency of the Council has put on the table draft compromises aimed at simplifying this system.
But several countries in the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) believe that the new delivery model risks making the CAP more complex, with an excessive administrative burden linked to the advance setting of annual values for performance indicators, in particular for rural development.
With regard to these indicators, delegations asked to know in advance the indicators, as well as the appropriate method of calculation, to set indicators in the basic act and to reduce their number.
Most delegations are against setting annual targets. An evaluation every two years, as proposed in the draft report of the European Parliament, could be accepted.
Delegations are concerned about possible automatic financial sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the objectives.
MEPs in the Agriculture Committee have until 3 December to table amendments to the three draft reports on the future CAP.
The Austrian Presidency has decided to present a progress report on the post-2020 CAP to the December Agriculture Council, after having noted that it was impossible to bring the Council to a general approach by the end of the year. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)