On Monday 10 January, the European Commission said that it had sent letters to countries late in submitting their strategic plans implementing the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski told members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture that 19 countries have now submitted their strategic plans (compared to 18 previously, with Lithuania being the 19th country to do so). “I hope that very soon we will receive the missing strategic plans”, said the Commissioner. He stressed the importance of “assessing all plans at the same time in order to use the same criteria and avoid differences in treatment” (see EUROPE 12862/7).
“Without a strategic plan, there can be no disbursement of funds”, said Mr Wojciechowski, responding to questions from MEPs including Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy), Ulrike Müller (Renew Europe, Germany) and Zbigniew Kuźmiuk (ECR, Poland).
The Commission will issue letters of comment in March-April assessing the strategic plans. The Commission will ask states to amend their plans if they are “not in line with the objectives of the CAP or if countries do not explain how these plans contribute to the objectives” of the European Green Deal, warned Janusz Wojciechowski.
He promised “full transparency” in the validation process and pledged to share with the European Parliament a “thematic overview” of the strategic plans submitted by the Member States.
Delegated acts. In addition, the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture decided on Tuesday 11 January not to raise any objections to the adoption of two delegated acts arising from the new CAP: certain interventions in the framework of strategic plans (45 votes in favour, 5 against and no abstentions) and rules on paying agencies (48 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions).
Markets. In response to questions, notably from Mr Dorfmann, on the delicate situation of agricultural markets, the Commissioner acknowledged the difficulties encountered by the pig industry. “But you have to be careful about interventions (in the market). We will discuss this at the Agriculture Council on 17 January”, Wojciechowski warned.
Several MEPs mentioned the rise in input prices and the Commissioner pointed out that the CAP tools will not address this problem. These are “political challenges” he said, referring to rising energy prices. He added, however, that countries can grant public aid to farmers affected by this price increase.
Geographical indications. Paolo De Castro (S&D, Italy) expressed concern about the Commission’s forthcoming proposals, notably on the revision of the regulation on geographical indications. Mr De Castro fears an approach focused on “commercial brands” rather than rural territories. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)