The rapporteur on the ‘common market organisation’ aspect of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Éric Andrieu, said, at a press conference on Tuesday 1 June, that the European Parliament had already obtained major concessions in the area of market regulation.
Negotiations on CAP reform will continue in June, after being interrupted last week due to disagreements on some issues (see EUROPE 12729/6 and other news).
Mirror clauses for Maximum Residue Levels. One of Mr Andrieu’s priorities is to win over the Member States and the European Commission on provisions to be included in the regulation banning imports of plant and animal products by 2025 at the latest if they do not comply with the requirements of the EU’s Maximum Residue Levels for pesticides.
“We are at a sticking point. I don’t understand why”, he said of the EU Council’s position.
The rapporteur assured that this ‘Article 188a’ on the ‘environmental’ aspect of pesticide residues in imported products was “compatible” with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, as “we are dealing with the intrinsic value of products”.
“The CAP must avoid dumping and unfair competition”, Mr Andrieu also argued. The EU Council wanted to put all issues, including pesticide residues in imported products, in a draft joint declaration (without legal effect) on trade.
For the rest, Mr Andrieu believes that the European Parliament “backed down little” on the CMO and achieved a lot. “We won”, in particular, on the extension of vine planting rights, on de-alcoholised wines, on payment deadlines for bulk wines, as well as on the regulation of supply (extension to all products with geographical indications) and on competition law (derogation, if the agreement allows for improved sustainability).
Mr Andrieu also hopes that another amendment (article 172b) will be validated in the negotiations allowing interprofessions to give indications on the added value between producers, processors and trade. “It seems that the EU Council is ready to give up on this point”, said Mr Andrieu. This would be important especially for wine producers (including Champagne). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)