Brussels, 22/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - During the meeting of its Presidency, on 17 May in Prague, the European Socialist Party (ESP) adopted a discussion paper on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), in view of the adoption, in June, of proposals from Commissioner Franz Fischler on the mid-way revision of this policy. This text, drafted by the former French Agriculture Minister Henri Nallet, the former Agriculture Minister for Hesse Willi Gorlach (MEP) and the Dutchman Frans Timmermans, speaks out in favour of the reduction in market spending to the benefit of rural development policy, notably by using the principal of modulation (possibility of reducing up to 20% of aids in relation to specific criteria) or of degression (annual linear reduction) of direct aids. The ESP proposes a five point reform, which respects the international and budgetary restrictions.:
Improve the qualitative performance of all the production sectors: starting from the realisation according to which biological agriculture represents only between 10 and 15% of consumer needs, the ESP calls for the encouragement of all forms of production, in all the sectors, in all the regions, whatever the size of the farms, but according to the most environmentally friendly methods. This reorientation of the production system must translate itself into a reduction in the amount dedicated to the first pillar of CAP (market spending) with the transfers made possible by the technique of degression or modulation.
Transfer part of the direct aid towards rural development: according to the ESP it is necessary to review the content of this second CAP pillar to widen it and make it more supple in order for it to promote, in the major sectors of production, good agricultural practices in relation to their environmental effectiveness. Part of the aids received by farmers could be linked to what could be called the "environmental service provided". This policy would be support by the simplified modulation or, better, by degression in the aids to products and, if necessary, by the transfer from one pillar to another. This transfer of a share of the aid towards the "green box" (aids causing a minimal distortion in trade and exempted from the reduction obligations foreseen under the Agreement on agriculture in the Uruguay Round) should, according to the European Socialists, allow to maintain aids to the necessary products.
Rethink and reorganise the agricultural production system in relation to environmental requirements: the ESP would like to limit the pernicious effects of intensive farming, in particular in the pig and poultry sectors and to a lesser extent, in the milk sector, thanks to the adoption of specific programmes in the regions most affected by this form of farming. At the same time, it will be necessary to encourage the more extensive farming, where the animals are fed with grass and proteins of vegetable origin. Despite the political problems that can be posed by this kind of reorientation - which already showed itself, for example, with regards to the implementation of the Directive on Nitrates -, it should be the first engaged during the mid-way revision of CAP in order to send a clear signal both to farmers as consumers. The ESP reiterates its call in favour of a greater production of vegetable proteins, in order to avoid the use of animal meals and the excessive dependency on a few producer countries.
Improve the management of CAP: to avoid that the political decisions necessary for the reforms are paralysed by diverging interests, regulations will be adopted by qualified majority and according to the co-decision procedure. The ESP would also like to create a true and powerful monitoring authority, under the responsibility of the Commission. This authority will notably have the ability to propose heavy sanctions on the failing Member States.
Decentralise the management of CAP: the ESP, which insists on the participation of all the actors in the debate, calls once more for codecision to be instituted for issues related to the reform of CAP.