On the sidelines of the informal meeting of European agriculture ministers in Copenhagen from 7 to 9 September, the Danish minister, Jacob Jensen, told a number of journalists on Monday 8 September that he wanted to highlight the positive aspects of the proposals currently on the table for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
At a time when many ministers are concerned about the proposed reduction in the CAP budget for 2028-2034 and the plan to merge the various existing instruments (EAGF, EAFRD) into a single fund, the current President of the EU Agriculture Council, Mr Jensen, stressed that it was “very important for the CAP to support European farmers and provide the right incentives to produce more food”. “At the same time, the CAP must also meet other political objectives: environmental, animal welfare and climate objectives”, added the Danish minister.
He stressed the need for the CAP to reflect the diversity between countries as different as Cyprus, Malta, Finland and Denmark. “We have huge differences in structure, history, context and geography. All these elements must be part of the CAP”, he stressed.
Mr Jensen also welcomed the fact that the proposals focus on the new generation of farmers.
Asked about the proposed reduction in the CAP budget, he said that he would prefer to discuss the use “that we can make of it, and the flexibility”.
“I know that there is a big debate, in Denmark as in most other Member States - if not all - about the proportion of funding to be allocated to the agricultural sector: how much for direct payments, how much for other objectives. Here again, you will probably find a wide range of opinions, even within Denmark, depending on whether you ask the environmental NGOs or the farming industry”, acknowledged the minister.
Lastly, he wanted to put into perspective the importance of competition between States over the ability to mobilise additional national funding.
At a presentation, the President of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Søren Søndergaard, opposed the proposed 20% cut in CAP funding for 2028-2034 and called for the capping and degressivity of aid to remain optional, rather than compulsory as the Commission had intended.
Luis Planas, the Spanish Minister for Agriculture, explained to three journalists that the reform proposal was in stark contrast to the views previously expressed by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the strategic importance of the agricultural sector.
Mr Planas expressed his concern about the reduction in financial resources (up to -22%) and about the image problem linked to the new budget scheme and the merging of funds. In his view, the CAP risks losing its political and strategic dimension in favour of a mere technical programme. The agriculture ministers will debate the post-2027 CAP on Tuesday (see EUROPE 13703/3). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)