At the ‘Global Food Forum’ organised on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 May near Brussels by the Farm Europe think-tank (which is celebrating its 10th anniversary), the European Commission unveiled the shape of the future Common Agricultural Policy, the proposals for which will be adopted on 16 July, at the same time as those for the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, spoke of an evolution of the CAP, rather than a revolution.
However, Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, Director at the European Commission (DG AGRI), stated at the Farm Europe event: “The elements I have mentioned are quite representative of a significant change” in the CAP.
The senior official felt that the CAP strategic plans offered an interesting perspective, by emphasising a common policy, common objectives, a common set of tools and common financing.
In the Commission’s view, the next CAP should build on this foundation, maintaining the structure of the CAP while offering Member States the flexibility necessary to respond to their specific needs.
Recent discussions, particularly in recent weeks and months, have not focused on the CAP itself, but rather on how the CAP project should be integrated into the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The Commission has set an ambitious agenda for the MFF, aimed at increasing the flexibility, agility and efficiency of EU spending, particularly in the context of the current crises.
The Commission must take account of new priorities (in addition to those already established, such as agriculture, cohesion, climate action and digital transformation), namely: security and defence and the repayment of NextGenerationEU. “These elements are essential for the development of the new CAP strategy”, explained Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle.
The Commission has examined different options to see how the CAP and its projects can be aligned with this new approach, promoting partnerships with Member States and regions to improve the efficiency of EU spending.
Farmers’ income. The future CAP will take account of the elements of the ‘vision for agriculture’ presented by the Commission last February (see EUROPE 13583/5). This will involve obtaining more targeted direct aid for the farmers who need it most.
Capping and degressivity of aid are among the possible solutions. The aim is “not to punish anybody, but just to say that we need to make sure that we're going to optimise the use of our scarce resources”, explained the Director at DG AGRI. Large farms still need support for investment, ecosystem services and climate adaptation, but the emphasis will increasingly be on socio-economic support targeting specific categories of farmers, she explained.
Incentives. In addition, the ‘vision’ suggests moving from an approach based on conditionality to a system based on incentives. Although conditionality has its merits, the current framework is very detailed and may need to be adjusted, according to the Commission. The basic principle will be the implementation of EU legislation on environmental protection, animal welfare, health and safety standards and nitrates.
“Instead of punishing, reducing payments [...] we would like to encourage them [farmers] adopt [...] better practices. That needs to be looked at carefully because this might also mean a more costly CAP [...] to make sure that we will have sufficient resources to be able to support those farmers who [...] want to [...] adopt practices that are better for environment and climate”, explained Ms Geslain-Lanéelle.
The Commission’s idea is to offer farmers a simpler ‘toolbox’. For example, there are eco-regimes and agri-environmental measures. Farmers can choose the option that suits them best. According to observers, this would make co-financing of eco-regimes possible.
One or two pillars. The Commission does not yet know whether the two pillars of the CAP (direct aid and rural development) will be retained, but it believes that the most important thing is to maintain the CAP’s ‘toolbox’, so as to have several ways of supporting farmers’ incomes (annual and multi-annual payments).
“If there are one or two funds, that may not be the most important thing”, responded Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle.
However, MEPs and the majority of agriculture ministers are calling for the CAP and its current two pillars to be maintained at the next MFF.
Simplification. Christophe Hansen pointed out that the 14 May proposals on simplifying CAP rules would “considerably reduce the administrative burden on organic and small-scale farmers, and reduce several aspects of cross-compliance”. The savings hoped for by the Commission are estimated “at around €1.5 billion a year”, added Mr Hansen (see EUROPE 13638/9).
“My mission letter clearly states that agriculture needs a dedicated and adequate budget. That’s my mission letter and I’ll be fighting on that basis”, he stressed.
“It is essential to maintain a clear distinction between cohesion policy funds and CAP funds”, warned the President of Coldiretti, Ettore Prandini. Concerns about the single fund have been felt as far afield as Rome, where Massimiliano Giansanti, President of Confagricoltura and Copa, announced the launch, from 20 May, of “a series of initiatives at European level to show the full extent of the dissatisfaction” of the sector “with this proposal”.
The Belgian Minister for Agriculture, David Clarinval, stressed the need to ensure reciprocal standards for imported products (mirror clauses), an idea also put forward by Mr Hansen.
Sovereignty indicators. Farm Europe has presented new indicators (https://aeur.eu/f/gs6 ) highlighting a rapid deterioration in agricultural sovereignty indicators for the European Union’s traditionally strong points: cereals and meat. Similarly, socio-economic indicators continue to fall.
On the environmental front, the indicators are on the rise. Water quality is continuing to improve, but this challenge is being replaced by that of availability. According to Farm Europe’s analysis, the European Union will need to increase its production by 13% by 2030 and by 25% by 2050 to meet the needs of a low-carbon economy.
Recent years have seen a decline in public investment across the European Union, with CAP funding falling by €85 billion over the period 2021-2027 in real terms compared to 2020.
Farm Europe is calling for a real plan to revive European agriculture, by mobilising the necessary budgetary resources and ensuring the coherence of all EU policies that have an impact on agriculture. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)