On Wednesday 24 February, the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture protested against the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council’s lack of room for manoeuvre in the negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans.
The last trilogue on this issue, which took place on 23 February, saw no progress made (see EUROPE 12659/14).
Committee chair Norbert Lins (EPP, Germany) acknowledged that, on a number of subjects, including definitions (active farmer, grassland and permanent pasture) or the capping of aid, “positions still differed too greatly for an agreement to be reached”.
Peter Jahr (EPP, Germany), the rapporteur on strategic plans, felt that the Council of the EU had a “problem”, because the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU is not able to change the remit. However, the rapporteur said, “the lines need to be moved”.
The European Parliament is calling for a compulsory definition of the concept of active farmer (which the Council of the EU opposes). There is also no solution on the internal convergence of subsidies (reduction in differences in the value of entitlements so that the values can be brought closer to the average), which “is quite irritating”, said Jahr.
Maria Noichl (S&D, Germany) criticised the Council of the EU for showing “contempt” for the European Parliament.
Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, Germany) believes the Council of the EU is “playing for time” to get the European Parliament to accept poor compromises at the last minute. Luke Ming Flanagan (The Left, Ireland) stated that the Council of the EU wants to renationalise the CAP.
Some good news. Jahr announced “good news” regarding discussions on training for young farmers and defining new farmers over the age of 40.
A lively debate took place on defining unit amounts for rural development aid measures. “We understand the flexibilities requested by Member States, but we have to guarantee the common character of the CAP”, said Jahr. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)