On the evening of Monday 7 July in Strasbourg, the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee is expected to agree on a firm but broadly traditional position aimed at maintaining the main elements of the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028-2034 of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), while opening the door to a fairer policy through a compulsory system of redistribution of direct aid.
The vote should go smoothly, thanks to the many compromise amendments negotiated between the various political groups (EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA, ECR, etc.) by the rapporteur, Carmen Crespo (EPP, Spanish). However, there are still some differences of opinion within the groups on certain issues. The plenary vote on this own-initiative report will take place after the summer break.
The Greens/EFA group is expected to support most of these compromises, despite disagreements on issues such as livestock farming, water, direct payments and the concept of “professional” farmers.
Budget up. MEPs are expected to call for an “increased and dedicated” budget for the CAP, “indexed to inflation” through annual revaluations, in the next MFF, in order to guarantee security of food supply.
One of the compromise amendments calls on the Commission and the co-legislators to “maintain fixed and protected income support as a central element of the CAP after 2027”. And integrating the CAP with other areas of funding, such as cohesion, regional development or fisheries, would run the risk of “compromising the distinctive role of agricultural policy”.
One of the amendments rejects any proposal to include the CAP budget in a single fund grouping together other policies or financial instruments (such as cohesion policy), as such an approach would reduce the effectiveness of interventions and compromise the Union’s strategic objectives in terms of food security and rural development.
On the controversial issue of direct payments, the compromise amendments stress the need to “protect and strengthen” direct income support that meets the needs of all active and professional farmers under the CAP, whether they are full-time or part-time, whatever the size of the farm or the type of production. The importance of the area-based model is reiterated, despite the desire within the left-wing groups in the Parliament to reform per-hectare aid.
The amendment nevertheless highlights the need to increase support for the most vulnerable farmers, in particular family farms, small and medium-sized farms, young farmers, women farmers, farms located in areas subject to natural constraints, and those adopting more sustainable practices.
In order to improve the targeting of CAP support towards those who actually carry out an agricultural activity, it is considered necessary to further refine the definition of the term ‘farmer’ at EU level.
MEPs will advocate an increase in voluntary coupled support, with sufficient budgetary resources and greater flexibility in its use.
The Commission and the Member States are invited to maintain the “voluntary” nature of the eco-regimes and to make them simpler and more flexible in the post-2027 CAP. It is also suggested that social conditionality be evaluated.
Redistribution. The European Parliament will ask for a full study to assess whether the introduction of compulsory mechanisms, such as redistribution or the limitation of CAP direct payments via the “capping and degressivity” of aid, would make it possible to improve fairness in support.
MEPs want this analysis to be carried out before the proposals on the new CAP, due on 16 July, are presented, so that appropriate instruments can be developed to provide real support for the viability of farms throughout the EU, particularly those run by young people, women and small and medium-sized farms. This study should also analyse the “non-application of the capping to certain payments, such as eco-regimes and agri-environmental or climate payments”, according to one of the compromise amendments.
MEPs are expected to call for a revision of the Nitrates Directive to bring it into line with the latest scientific data and agricultural best practice.
The amendment calls on the Commission to authorise the use of RENURE fertilisers under clearly defined conditions, “so that farmers can reduce their dependence on synthetic fertilisers and accelerate the transition to more circular and sustainable nutrient management systems”.
According to MEPs, the future CAP should continue to encourage farmers and new entrants to take up organic farming. The Commission will be asked to examine “new possibilities for dealing with crises in the organic market”.
Link to the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/hpn (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)