The Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) continued, on Monday 8 June, its discussions on an issue relating to the post-2027 common agricultural policy (CAP): the definition of ‘farmer’ and the possible introduction of a definition of ‘active farmer’.
Member States are understood to have broadly supported continuing the discussions within the Working Party on Horizontal Agricultural Questions, with a view to examining together the definition of ‘farmer’ and that of ‘active farmer’, as well as the question of whether or not it should be mandatory (see EUROPE 13881/9).
Ahead of the meeting, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council had circulated an updated proposal for a definition of ‘farmer’, considered close to the existing framework in the current CAP.
A majority of Member States reportedly confirmed their support for a definition along those lines. However, several delegations are understood to have insisted on the need to examine this text in parallel with the definition of ‘active farmer’.
Others reportedly considered that all the definitions should be dealt as a package, in connection with other concepts, such as that of ‘eligible hectare’, or even within the broader framework of the CAP reform, including the agricultural provisions of the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) Regulation for 2028-2034.
Many countries are understood to have reiterated their preference for an optional definition of ‘active farmer’, opposing any harmonised obligation at European level.
Moreover, several delegations are reportedly explicitly supported the Cyprus Presidency’s intention to continue work on these definitions within the Working Party on Horizontal Agricultural Questions, confirming the lack of consensus at this stage.
A majority of Member States are also understood to have suggested that, rather than mirroring the definition of ‘farmer’ between the CAP and the NRPP Regulation, a simple reference to the CAP framework should be introduced into the Regulation. However, the Presidency recalled that this issue did not fall within the remit of the SCA.
The European Commission, for its part, reportedly stressed that, if the mandatory introduction of a definition of ‘active farmer’ were ruled out, other mechanisms should be considered in order to ensure that CAP support is effectively targeted at the beneficiaries who need it most.
The Cyprus Presidency of the Council is understood to have included the updated definition of ‘farmer’, together with a placeholder for a possible definition of ‘active farmer’, into a compromise text, which will be examined at the meeting of the Working Party on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 June. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)