On Tuesday, 5 November, experts from the EU Member States welcomed the suggestions from the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU about introducing more flexibility in terms of the level of post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) spending on climate and environmental objectives (see EUROPE 12362/12).
The main idea in the Finnish document is to replace the minimum 30% share of 'environmental' expenditure in the second pillar of the CAP (rural development) - proposed by the Commission for the CAP in the future - with a fixed percentage that would apply to both pillars (the first being direct aid and market expenditure).
At Tuesday's meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), nearly fifteen countries (including France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium) are reported to have welcomed Finland's suggestions.
Some countries, including France, Sweden and Denmark, are reported to have stressed the importance of retaining a high degree of environmental ambition in the CAP, even if a fixed percentage were included in the strategic plans. Delegations are reported to have welcomed the additional flexibility that will be given to countries to choose the measures most appropriate to local conditions. Some countries preferred to wait until they have a clearer understanding of the results of the negotiations on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027.
With regard to the interventions that would be included in the fixed percentage, the list proposed by the Finnish Presidency was considered acceptable by the SCA, although further technical discussions were considered necessary in order for the list to be completed.
On 12 November, the SCA will discuss compromise suggestions put forward by the Finnish Presidency on the 'green architecture' of the post-2020 CAP, i.e. the enhanced conditionality of aid and ecological programmes (eco-schemes). EU agriculture ministers will discuss post-2020 CAP climate-related measures in Brussels on 18 November.
To consult the Finnish document on the CAP and climate-related matters, go to: http://bit.ly/2WSDTyv (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)