On Monday 19 October, German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner called on her EU counterparts to agree on their vision for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (see EUROPE 12582/14) at the meeting, which runs until 20 October in Luxembourg.
She explained that it is necessary to take advantage of this ‘face-to-face’ meeting to reach a ‘general approach’ because, given the changing Covid-19 pandemic, “we don’t know when we will meet face-to-face again”. In her view, it would be difficult to reach agreement by videoconference on such an important subject as CAP reform. “We are doomed to succeed”, she told the EU agriculture ministers during the first round of discussions.
This debate confirmed differences of opinion, especially on the modalities of the new eco-scheme (environmental programme in the direct aid framework under the first pillar). The German EU Council Presidency proposes setting a mandatory minimum level of direct payments, i.e. 20%, for the eco-schemes.
Some countries have accepted such a minimum budget (France, Spain, Portugal, and the Scandinavian countries). The Netherlands argued for 30% for eco-schemes and even 40% for climate-related expenditure in the second pillar (30% in the compromise text presented).
Others (Italy, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, etc.) are opposed to a minimum budget of 20% (often considered too high) and to the compulsory nature of the eco-schemes. They prefer a flexible system to avoid a loss of funds if farmers fail to meet the objectives of the eco-schemes.
The Austrian idea of reducing the level of eco-schemes for countries that spend a lot of second pillar funds on climate-related measures is supported by some (e.g. Latvia), but not by France.
Another subject under discussion is the setting or removal of the threshold for ‘financial discipline’ (reduction of direct aid). Some countries (Spain, Romania, etc.) want a 2,000 euro threshold, as proposed, while others, including Denmark, want to abolish this threshold.
The introduction of enhanced cross compliance raises the problem of how to deal with small farmers (derogations in terms of scrutiny or sanctions).
France argued for the introduction for a ‘right to make mistakes’ for farmers as a simplification.
Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria, in particular, have asked to maintain the 50% transitional national aid for certain sectors that was due to expire at the end of 2020.
Spain and France, in particular, have asked to maintain the budget allocated to the POSEI programme (see EUROPE 12576/17) and to extend the planting rights for vines beyond 2030 (France has requested an extension until 2050).
Meetings between the German minister and each of the EU Council delegations continued late on Monday in order to prepare for the presentation of new compromise texts on Tuesday. Discussions could again continue late on Tuesday. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)