In both the European Parliament and the EU Council, work on transitional measures in 2021 for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is progressing, although the pace is slowing due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
The Agriculture Council of 23 March is cancelled because of measures to protect against the virus. Also, work is expected to resume by mid-April at the earliest, due to Easter holidays.
The changes that these institutions wish to make to the European Commission's initial proposals are broadly along the same lines: a two-year transition (i.e. covering 2021 and 2022) and the possibility of extending rural development programmes for more than three years.
The increasing delay in discussions on the post-2020 CAP reinforces the need for robust transitional measures in 2021 and - as is now accepted by almost everyone, except perhaps the European Commission - in 2022.
400 amendments. In the European Parliament some 400 amendments to the report prepared by MEP Elsi Katainen have been tabled. Many of these amendments concern the extension of rural development programmes: on the one hand, to ensure the financing of those just renewed for five years (such as aid for conversion to organic farming) and, on the other hand, for the new commitments to be made in 2021.
Furthermore, in the fruit and vegetable sector, some amendments want to authorise producer organisations to continue their operational programmes approved on the basis of the regulations in force until the expiry date originally planned, without shortening their duration, as proposed by the Commission. The Commission wants to apply its new environmental criteria (20% of the budget for climate and biodiversity measures) as soon as possible.
Some MEPs, notably Dacian Cioloș (Renew Europe, Romania) and Paolo de Castro (S&D, Italy), are proposing in joint amendments to anticipate the environmental ambitions of the next CAP by strengthening the greening mechanisms now.
Proposals that are unlikely to be implemented because MEPs do not wish to embark on a mini reform of the CAP. The Parliament Agriculture Committee hopes to adopt its position on this dossier on 27 or 28 April with a view to a plenary vote in June, if work is not slowed down by the virus.
March Agriculture Council cancelled. EU Agriculture Ministers were supposed to reach a partial general approach on these transitional measures on 23 March, but this Council is cancelled. Work is expected to resume around mid-April (see EUROPE 12433/9).
Experts from the EU countries refined their position on this dossier at the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) on 9 March. They discussed a compromise text from the Croatian Presidency.
Many Member States are in favour of a transitional period of two years, but some, like the Commission, still seem to prefer a one-year period.
The EU Council should leave a one-year transition period for the time being in its draft position, but add a statement that the final decision on this issue will be taken at a later stage in light of developments. In addition, all financial figures for the year 2021 will remain in brackets, pending a decision by Heads of State or Government on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. As regards rural development programmes, the EU Council is in favour of a derogation allowing commitments of more than three years in duly justified cases, depending on their nature and their environmental and climate objectives.
Once the positions of the EU Council and the European Parliament have been adopted, interinstitutional negotiations can begin with a view to reaching an agreement.
A more ambitious CAP. The European Court of Auditors adopted an opinion (https://bit.ly/3cUhFDW ) on these transitional measures on Friday 13 March. Already in 2018, it had been critical of the proposed CAP reform, considering that it “falls short of the EU’s ambitions for a greener and more robust performance-based approach”.
The Court considers that “the delayed adoption of the post-2020 legislative framework puts back the implementation of a potentially more ambitious CAP by at least a year”. The Commission and legislators could use the additional time available to address issues such as climate and environmental challenges. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)