On Wednesday, 10 September, the Council of the EU published the text of the mandate for negotiating a compromise with the European Parliament on simplifying common agricultural policy (CAP) rules.
Small farmers would be exempt from the cross-compliance system (controls and administrative penalties), except for basic environmental and climatic requirements (see EUROPE 13701/15).
Member States would be able to group several controls together in a single visit. On-the-spot checks would no longer be obligatory for interventions monitored by satellite (Copernicus) or equivalent data. Small beneficiaries would be exempt from cross-compliance controls and administrative penalties, except where environmental requirements are concerned.
The text confirms that the annual performance clearance procedure would be eliminated.
Strategic plans. A distinction would be made between “strategic” amendments (subject to the European Commission’s approval) and “nonstrategic” amendments (about which the European Commission would only be notified). Nonstrategic amendments would enter into force as soon as the European Commission has been notified about them—unless the European Commission objects within 30 working days.
Risk management. Member States could keep up to 3% of direct payments in order to finance risk management tools (insurance, mutual funds), with [this provision] being applied to farmers covered by these tools. The thresholds for triggering aid in the event of a crisis would be made more flexible (loss of production ≥ 30% over 3 years).
GAEC. As far as the ‘good agricultural and environmental condition’ (GAEC) standard 1 is concerned, the reference period for classifying grassland as ‘permanent grassland’ would be extended from 5 years to 7 years (optional for Member States). The maximum threshold for a decrease in permanent grassland compared to 2018 would be raised from 5% to 10%.
The text provides for an exemption for organic farming. Farmers whose production is 100% organic would be considered to automatically be in compliance with GAEC standards 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Member States could extend this presumption of compliance to partially organic farms, subject to certain conditions.
Member States could exclude GAEC 2 (carbon-rich soils) from the requirements for eco-schemes or agri-environmental commitments in order to compensate farmers for compliance costs (wetlands, peatlands).
Member States could align the definition of “water course” (GAEC 4) with their national legislation as long as the objective of protecting [water] from pollution is respected.
The EU Council’s mandate does not retain the provisions on creating direct crisis payments to compensate [farmers] for disaster-related losses.
Young farmers. The text takes up the ideas of extending the deadline for investments related to new legal requirements to 36 months (instead of 24) and of introducing [the provision of] a lump sum of €50,000 in support for the development of small farms. The text sets a ceiling on payments for small farms (€2,500 per year).
The EU Council’s mandate does away with the obligation to create a national data governance authority designated by each Member State.
Eco-schemes. Payments for agri-environmental commitments or conversion to organic farming could take the form of annual payments per livestock unit or per beehive (instead of per hectare). Member States could adapt the requirements of eco-schemes to existing national rules—if the latter are compatible with CAP objectives.
Producer organisations in the fruit and vegetable sectors could receive high funding rates (up to +0.5%) for targeted sectoral interventions (environment, innovation). The text provides for an increase in advance payments: up to 75% for rural development interventions.
Link to mandate: https://aeur.eu/f/id8 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)