Negotiations between the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and representatives of the European Parliament on the package to simplify the rules governing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) got underway on Monday 10 November, late in the afternoon, with participants optimistic.
A senior European official welcomed “the substantial progress made last week at technical level” and said he hoped “that the discussions will enable the points still outstanding to be resolved in order to conclude the negotiations”.
According to the European Commission, the proposed changes could generate savings of up to €1.58 billion a year for farmers and €210 million for national administrations, while making payments, certain requirements and crisis management tools more flexible.
The issues to be decided include the rules on organic farming, the rules in Natura 2000 areas, crisis payments and certain criteria relating to good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC).
This is the second trilogue on this issue, following the one on 17 October, which was cut short (see EUROPE 13734/11).
At the time of going to press, negotiations were still underway. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)