20/10/2020 (Agence Europe) – Late on Tuesday 20 October, EU agriculture ministers negotiated a ‘general approach’ on proposals to amend the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (see EUROPE 12584/4). As expected, the most contentious issue involves eco-schemes (mandatory or optional, minimum percentage of direct payments to be spent on them). Julia Klöckner, the German Minister of Agriculture, said on Tuesday: “We need to introduce binding eco-regimes and a minimum budget”. Compromise texts from the German Presidency of the Council of the EU were due to be presented at around 9 p.m., but negotiations could continue throughout the night. (LC)