EU Agriculture Ministers will hold a debate on 15 July in Brussels on post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures that contribute to climate and environment objectives (see EUROPE 12287/5).
On Monday 8 July, the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU presented a discussion paper to the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) recalling the state of play of the discussions on the 'green architecture' of the proposals on the post-2020 CAP.
It is recalled that "many delegations" recognise the essential role that the CAP plays in relation to the environment and climate change. Many delegations also agree to increase the "CAP's environmental and climate ambition", provided that the CAP budget corresponds (to this ambition), that Member States are on an equal footing and that there is sufficient room for manoeuvre to adapt the rules to specific country circumstances, according to the document.
With regard to 'enhanced conditionality', delegations stressed the importance of having simple rules. Differences include: - whether small farmers should be exempted from conditionality or not; - whether eco-schemes (first pillar environmental programmes) should be mandatory or voluntary for Member States.
To read the document: https://bit.ly/32jlE7Z (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)