At their ‘physical’ meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, 19 October, and Tuesday, 20 October, agriculture ministers from EU countries will attempt to come up with a ‘general approach’ on the three regulations amending the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Differences of opinion among countries regarding the degree of ambition for the future CAP’s green architecture (eco-schemes, enhanced cross-compliance) are so great that this may seem like an ambitious objective.
The German Presidency of the Council of the EU proposed that a target of at least 20% of the direct payments be devoted to eco-schemes. However, a large group of Member States is refusing an eco-scheme that would be compulsory and a minimum budget to be allocated to it (see EUROPE 12580/15).
“If it is not possible to come up with a general approach in October, we will have to try in November”, indicated a senior European official on Thursday, 15 October. “The green architecture is the main outstanding issue”, confirmed this source.
Cross-compliance is another topic that will require attention and effort in order to reach a compromise. One source explained, “It will be necessary to find exemptions in order to take the situations in certain Member States into account and to decide on an exemption for small farmers”. The German Presidency of the Council of the EU wants to propose not an exemption for small farmers but rather a simplification of the rules on controls and sanctions.
As far as the timetable is concerned, the aim would be to start talks among the European Parliament, EU Council, and European Commission (trilogues) on the CAP towards the end of October or beginning of November, with a view to a comprehensive agreement by March 2021.
Transitional measures. Following the vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, negotiations among the institutions (European Commission, EU Council, and European Parliament) on transitional measures for the CAP (extension of the current rules in 2021 and 2022 and inclusion of the €8 billion in accordance with the Economic Recovery Plan due to Covid-19) will start after the October EU Council with the aim of quickly reaching an agreement so that the transitional regulation can enter into force starting on 1 January 2021.
Other topics. The EU Council will adopt conclusions assessing the European Commission’s ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy from May 2020. An agreement on these conclusions was reached on Wednesday, 14 October, in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper).
The following topics will be discussed as ‘any other business’: the situation of beef and veal (request from Spain), the declaration on derogations with regard to hygiene rules for local slaughter activities (France on behalf of six EU countries), and the declaration on the postponement of the date of implementation of the new animal health law (Romania with the support of 15 EU countries).
Link to the latest compromise text from the German Presidency of the Council of the EU (dated 14 October) on CAP Strategic Plans: https://bit.ly/3k5pkT6 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)