Economic support for farms in the EU remains the dominant feature of the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans, according to a study debated on Thursday 29 June by the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture.
This study (https://aeur.eu/f/7sw ) concludes that EU Member States lack ambition when it comes to meeting environmental protection targets.
Basic income support for sustainability accounts for the largest share of direct payment funding (51.5%). Compared with the previous programming period, the main changes are as follows, according to the study:
- an increase in redistributive income support (from 4.3% of direct payments in 2019 to 10.7% for 2023-2027);
- the extension of coupled income support (from 10.8% in 2019 to 12.3% for 2023-2027);
- the introduction of eco-schemes (23.8% of direct payments for a total of 158 eco-schemes).
Only 11 Member States apply capping and/or degressivity of aid and three provide for risk management tools as part of direct payments.
The author pointed out that 14 EU countries have management and insurance plans, although not all products are covered by these schemes.
In general, MEPs felt that more needed to be done on risk management tools and support for young people.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian), Anne Sander (EPP, French) and Jérémy Decerle (Renew Europe, French) welcomed the first positive results of the strategic plans in terms of respect for the environment.
Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, German) strongly disagreed with this. In Germany, 60% of eco-schemes have been taken up, which is not enough, in his view.
Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) said she was concerned about there being 28 different CAPs. Christophe Clergeau (S&D, French) called for the “leverage effect” of eco-schemes to be measured to see if they are really “factors in the transformation of agricultural practices”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)