Financial resources proportional with what is at stake, a dedicated budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the maintenance of the two pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy: these are the demands expressed on Monday 26 May in Brussels by a majority of European Agriculture Ministers, during a new debate on the ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ presented last February by the European Commission.
The Spanish Minister, Luis Planas, has asked the European Commission to take account of the expectations of the rural world in the next CAP, whose reform proposals are expected in mid-July. “I hope that the Commission will not make the mistake of putting forward a proposal that does not meet the fundamental expectations of the sector itself, and this is a matter of genuine concern to me”, admitted Mr Planas on his arrival at the Agriculture Council meeting. The Spanish Minister stated that Spain would defend the fact that the CAP has a “unique singularity”, that it should have an adequate budget with “sufficient size to support the primary sector” and that it should be separated from the rest of the funds.
Annie Genevard, the French Minister, defended a balance between environmental protection and the need to produce food. She called for the common nature of the CAP to be preserved and for the funds of the first pillar (direct aid and market expenditure) and the second pillar (rural development) not to be dissociated.
Furthermore, the idea of creating a single fund and plan grouping together all the EU’s intervention instruments is in no way suited to the ambitious objectives assigned to the CAP and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), say the Italian and Greek delegations in a note that was discussed at the Council (https://aeur.eu/f/h1o ). With the support of 11 delegations, Rome and Athens are calling for greater “continuity” in the CAP post-2027.
Francesco Lollobrigida, the Italian Minister, felt that the CAP should be financed in an “appropriate” way.
On the future CAP budget, discussions (within the Commission) are underway, confirmed the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen.
Trade. France and Luxembourg again stressed the need for ‘mirror clauses’ in trade with third countries, particularly in the sanitary and phytosanitary fields.
With regard to the EU/Mercosur free trade agreement, Annie Genevard said that she was holding consultations with other EU countries, which had revealed that adoption of the agreement was “far from being unanimous”.
“Many countries are wondering about the consequences for their farming systems. It doesn’t seem to me that an adoption majority is self-evident. I also note that the issue is being debated in the European Parliament”, said the French Minister (see other news).
As part of the ‘Vision for Agriculture’, several countries have called for secure access to water for farmers, and have raised the issue of funding for water investments.
The use of water resources was mentioned in particular by Spain, France and Portugal.
Direct payments. Ministers from the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) have called for external convergence of aid (https://aeur.eu/f/h1n ). This is a mechanism designed to bring the direct aid per hectare paid in each EU country closer to the EU average. Denmark was against capping aid and felt that direct aid should take account of income differences between countries.
Several Ministers have called for crisis management tools that are adapted to the new realities.
Finally, Mr Hansen indicated that he would very shortly be presenting a clear timetable for future initiatives to follow up the vision’s measures (simplification, livestock sector, generational renewal, reciprocity, etc.). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)