The European Commissioner-designate for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, will participate in his second hearing before MEPs on Tuesday 8 October from 11 am to 12.30 pm (see EUROPE 12339/4). A majority of the coordinators of the political groups of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee on Monday 7 October asked for the green light from the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament groups to hold this last chance hearing.
The Polish candidate for the post of Commissioner in the new Commission, Janusz Wojciechowski, answered additional questions from MEPs (see the answers below).
European plan for organic farming. He confirmed that the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy will "provide the framework for a long-term vision for rural areas, of which agriculture will play an important part". According to him, organic farming can play an important role in the European Green Deal (improving biodiversity, protection of the soils...). He is convinced that the EU should encourage organic production as part of the CAP reform. Member States should, he said, increase support for organic farmers in national Strategic Plans. In addition, new eco-schemes could be used to duly remunerate farmers. Janusz Wojciechowski will present a European action plan for organic farming.
New breeding techniques. Mr Wojciechowski is in favour of a debate with all stakeholders and citizens on this issue, in light of the Case Law of the European Court of Justice. "Any possible measures on safe use of new breeding techniques must be adequate and proportionate and we need to see how they could be used", writes the Commissioner-designate. A lot of research is already ongoing in the EU on new breeding techniques, he recalls.
Family farms. He recalls that a significant and growing share of income support is absorbed by very large farms (more than 250 ha), which farm 30% of the EU's agricultural land, while they represent only slightly more than 1% of the total number of farms. "This situation has raised concerns and could put at risk the legitimacy and credibility of the CAP among EU citizens", says the Commissioner-designate. He lists the tools and mechanisms proposed by the current Commission to improve the distribution of aid among CAP beneficiaries.
Capping. Mr Wojciechowski is not clearly in favour of capping aid to large companies, but points out that family farms would "benefit" from a mandatory cap on support, and "as you are aware, this issue is one of my main priorities", he replied to MEPs.
He is interested in the issue of 'land concentration' and ensures that the Commission "will continue to closely monitor the functioning of land markets".
Convergence. The Commissioner-designate is in favour of "reaching in due time full internal convergence" (catching up on differences in the level of basic payment per hectare between farmers in the same Member State). The Commission proposes a greater convergence of the value of entitlements, with a minimum target of 75% of the average value for all entitlements in the same Member State or group of territories, by 2026 at the latest. "It's a minimum", says Mr Wojciechowski (Member States can opt for full internal convergence).
Post-2020 CAP. He reiterated that the proposal provides a "good basis" for discussing the post-2020 CAP and that he is ready to consider adapting the proposal "where there is consensus between the co-legislators". On the risks of renationalisation of the CAP resulting from the proposal, the Commissioner-designate considers that the fact that Member States are considered better placed to define a strategy according to their needs "does not mean that they have ‘carte-blanche’" (the objectives to be achieved are defined at EU level).
He defends a strong budget for the CAP for the period 2021-2027, while supporting the Commission's proposal, expecting a 5% reduction in this expenditure.
The new 'cross compliance' mechanism will set essential basic standards for farmers to meet, including compulsory crop rotation, says Mr Wojciechowski.
To consult the responses of the Commissioner-designate: http://bit.ly/2St6Wojcie (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)