On Tuesday 28 April, the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee adopted its position on transitional measures for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The mandate to negotiate (trilogues) with the EU Council was accepted.
The report by Mrs Elsi Kataïnen (Renew Europe, Finland) was adopted with compromise amendments (see EUROPE 12465/11).
These compromise amendments cover part of the 400 amendments that were tabled in February by MEPs (see EUROPE 12454/23, 12446/10).
MEPs are reiterating their position in favour of maintaining agricultural spending (EU27) at the level of the 2014-2020 budget in real terms.
Two-year transition period. The compromise amendment stipulates that, if the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and the regulation on the new strategic plans for the CAP (post-2020) have not been published in the Official Journal of the EU before 30 October 2020, this transitional period will have to be extended for a further year, until 31 December 2022.
Another amendment allows the use of funds from the next financial period to finance outstanding commitments where funds have run out.
Some amendments modify the Commission's original proposal, which limits the duration of programmes on organic farming, animal welfare and environmental requirements to 3 years.
The compromise foresees that, for these three types of programmes, Member States may determine a "longer period" (up to 5 years) for new commitments.
Other amendments allow the duration of operational programmes in the fruit and vegetables sector and in the wine sector (planting rights) to be extended during the transitional period.
Amendments are aimed at extending, for the duration of the transitional period, the possibility of paying national aid (which expires at the end of 2020) in favour of certain sectors.
The other important amendments allow: - the further 'internal convergence' of aid; - a rejection of the pursuit of 'external convergence'; - budgeting of the reserve for agricultural crises; - the introduction of precautionary savings (State Aid derogations); - an extension of the minimum 20% loss threshold for the triggering of all insurance instruments (currently only relates to the income stabilisation instrument).
Anne Sander (EPP, France) has welcomed amendments to strengthen risk management tools (mutual funds and precautionary savings mechanism) and to review the financing of market and crisis management tools (crisis reserve).
Kataïnen's report “sends a clear message” about the need for a “strong” agricultural budget and calls for greater flexibility from Member States in terms of more co-financing, as well as the possibility to do more on agri-environmental measures, according to a statement by the Renew Europe group.
The Croatian Presidency of the Council hopes that an interinstitutional agreement can be concluded before the end of June. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)