EU Member States are struggling to agree on the shape of the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), due to budgetary differences.
On Friday 11 October, the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) examined a revised version of the draft conclusions on the future of the CAP (see EUROPE 13484/17). Prior to the meeting, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council held informal consultations with delegations and received comments and suggestions, which were taken into account and incorporated into the revised draft.
According to the Hungarian Presidency of the Council, the text represents a balance between the sometimes different, even opposing, points of view of the Member States.
The SCA is forwarding the draft conclusions to the Council, with a view to a ministerial discussion at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 21 and 22 October.
Ministers will discuss the text and outstanding issues, such as: budgetary issues and issues linked to the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including external convergence of aid (reducing the gap between countries as regards direct payments) and the fair distribution of direct payments, as well as the green transition and the role of the CAP.
Some Member States mentioned that they did not want references to budgetary aspects in the text of the conclusions, or that they wanted wording to the effect that the text did not prejudge discussions on the MFF, while others said that they wanted explicit references, particularly on the subject of external convergence, on which countries disagree. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)