All EU countries’ national strategy plans implementing the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be approved by the end of the year, the European Commission said on Tuesday 12 July.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture has discussed with the Commission the state of play in the process of validating the strategic plans as the new CAP enters into force on 1 January 2023.
“We are doing our utmost to conclude the discussions with the Member States as quickly as possible”, said a Commission representative. These strategic plans will be adopted before the end of 2022, he added, admitting that the timetable is tight (see EUROPE 12949/5).
On 29 May, the Commission sent the comment letters on these strategic plans to all countries. The replies of all Member States (except two, Portugal and Italy) have been published by the Commission.
Member States are being responsive to the issues that have been raised, the Commission stated.
Some ten national strategic plans should be finalised before the summer break, the Commission said. If the revised strategic plan does not suit us, we send remarks to the countries concerned, the Commission also explained. At least 20 EU countries have provided for a 10% redistribution of aid to the smallest companies and some countries distribute more (around 20%), the Commission said.
Regarding the green architecture of the CAP, there is much discussion on Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) concerning crop rotation and the share of non-productive land, the Commission said. It added that it was confident that these discussions with the Member States could be concluded soon. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)