The president of the Renew Europe group, Dacian Cioloș, argued on Monday 19 October for realistic environmental targets for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), especially in the absence of an impact assessment (see EUROPE 12581/11).
As the European Parliament votes this week on the three texts reforming the CAP, Dacian Cioloș felt it was necessary to show credibility, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. “We need greener agriculture, but the decisions taken must be realistic and enforceable, otherwise we won’t be able to make the necessary changes”.
He explained to a small group of journalists that the CAP “must help ensure food production, good management of natural resources and must guarantee a fair income for farmers”.
He said Parliament was preparing to improve the proposals on the table from 2018, thanks to a revision clause in 2025 (to include new elements arising from the European Green Deal), a “strengthened environmental component” and targets to improve farming practices and reduce the use of chemical inputs.
Mr Cioloș said: “I hope we will have a positive vote on what the three groups (EPP, S&D, Renew Europe) have negotiated”.
In addition to mandatory cross-compliance, which applies to all direct payments, one third of the payments (30%) are earmarked for climate-friendly practices. This is a real improvement, he said, especially since countries will be able to plan measures adapted to their climatic conditions. A 35% expenditure on climate change is also planned for the second pillar (rural development). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)