Budgetary uncertainties are complicating and delaying negotiations on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), EU Agriculture Ministers noted on Monday 17 December in Brussels.
Many Member States - including France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Italy - have requested that the CAP budget be maintained at its current level over the period 2021-2027, while the Commission has proposed a 5% budget cut (see EUROPE 12032).
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, acknowledged that there was still a lot of work to be done before the Council of the European Union reached a political agreement in principle ('general approach'). But he called on ministers to work on the CAP "in parallel" with the debates on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027.
The Commission wants the Council to reach a political agreement in October 2019 on the next MFF. Some sources point out that the Council's work on the CAP might be most successful under the Finnish Presidency in the second half of 2019.
Risk management. Several countries, such as France and Belgium, have asked to review risk and crisis management measures in order to have more responsive tools available. Belgium wondered whether the €400 million envelope for the crisis reserve would be sufficient.
Transitional measures. Several countries - Belgium, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic - have requested transitional measures before applying the new rules. Italy and Greece mentioned a transitional period without risk of sanctions (loss of financial envelopes).
Portugal and Latvia protested against the reduction of their envelope under the second pillar of the CAP (rural development) and against the increase in the co-financing rate.
France has defended a simple, ambitious, common and strong CAP.
In particular, France and Finland have requested that coupled support be maintained.
Germany stressed the need to further discuss the simplification of rules, checks and sanctions, and 'green' architecture.
Denmark asked for "high" environmental targets and to review the provisions on cross compliance. Cross compliance should apply to all farmers and capping of subsidies should be optional, according to this country. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)