On Wednesday 25 October, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) spoke out in favour of strengthening the role of the regions in the management and delivery of EU investment in agriculture and rural development.
During a hearing with members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, regional and local representatives from the CoR’s Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) shared the results of a survey on the regional dimension of the national strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The results indicate that the current CAP is less flexible and may not take account of regional needs.
The current model for implementing the CAP has reduced its regional component, increased its complexity and reduced its flexibility when it comes to adapting support measures in the event of a crisis: these are the results of the consultation carried out by the CoR on the regional dimension of the strategic plans. Local and regional authorities were consulted through the CoR’s network of regional focal points, set up to improve the assessment of EU legislation.
Isilda Gomes (PES, Portuguese), Chair of the NAT Committee, said: “While the President of the European Commission announced a strategic dialogue on the future CAP, we underline the vital importance of a territorial and bottom-up approach.” (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)