The negotiations between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament launched on Friday 17 October on the package to simplify the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have come to a halt.
However, the two institutions were hoping to reach an agreement quickly so that the new rules could come into force from 2026 (see EUROPE 13726/5).
“Unfortunately, the process has not been ideal”, said a European source. Late on Friday afternoon, the European Parliament presented a new agenda with a long list of items for discussion, reflecting the amendments adopted at the plenary session. The problem was that many of these points had nothing to do with the simplification of CAP rules (‘omnibus’), but rather were part of a wider reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
“It was therefore not possible to continue negotiations on this basis”, added the same source. Informal consultations are nevertheless continuing between the two institutions in an attempt to break the deadlock.
Proposals by Parliament deemed irrelevant by the Council of the EU include: - the abolition of Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) 5 (soil erosion control) and 9 (protection of sensitive permanent grassland); - a ban on Member States imposing taxes on direct payments; - the reduction from 30% to 15% of the loss threshold giving entitlement to public support for agricultural insurance.
Negotiations between Parliament and the Council are due to resume shortly, according to several European sources. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)