Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski told the EU Council on Monday 12 December that the Dutch strategic plan for implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) would be adopted “in the next few days”.
The Commissioner was critical of the environmental part of the Dutch strategic plan (see EUROPE 13080/5).
“We have approved 27 CAP strategic plans” (two of which concern Belgium), the Commissioner summarised. The new CAP will enter into force on 1 January 2023.
Dutch Agriculture Minister Piet Adema deplored the delays in the Commission’s adoption of the country’s strategic plan, submitted on 30 September.
Modification of the plans. Commissioner Wojciechowski said he was ready to validate changes to the strategic plans that would be submitted by countries, such as “actions to help farmers use fertilisers more efficiently and sustainably”. One modification per year of these plans is allowed.
The Commissioner gave some figures on these plans. Income support for farms totals €38 billion per year. More than 10%, or €4 billion per year and €20 billion over five years, will be allocated to the ‘redistributive payment’.
A total of €8.5 billion will be allocated to support young farmers and generational renewal.
90% of EU farmland receiving area-based support will be subject to cross-compliance requirements with a strong environmental focus, the Commissioner for Agriculture added.
In addition, 32% of public aid, or almost €100 billion, is spent on achieving environmental benefits for climate, water, soil, air, biodiversity and animal welfare.
The area of organic land in the EU supported by the CAP will almost double to almost 10% of agricultural land compared to the area funded in 2018 (5.3%), Wojciechowski concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)