Brussels, 04/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - At the last meeting of the Special Agricultural Committee (SAC) on 3 February, France presented some ideas for fuelling the debate on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and to help the Commission in its efforts at simplifying the provisions of the rural development programmes. Except for Sweden, which has criticised the possible budgetary implications, almost all delegations backed this contribution.
France has suggested the following proposals for simplification:
Planning: France recommends providing for a single Commission interlocutor to deal with requests by Member States and using a one-stop-shop system to facilitate contacts and improve the daily management of the programmes. According to her, two planning papers should be provided for: a general paper containing measures opted for and the description of the measures, approved by the Commission, and a more detailed complementary paper for which national authorities would be responsible. Amendments could be made to the complementary paper without having to undergo a systematic examination by the Commission's services (so that the principle of "subsidiarity" is fully implemented).
Arrangements for management and financing: France wants the yearly budgetary rule of Heading 1b of the budget ("rural development") to be made more flexible to allow for appropriations to be carried over from one year to the next. The French delegation explains that it is difficult to predict the amount of certain expenses in advance, including aid to investment to agri-food industries.
Control arrangements: these are considered too cumbersome and ill-adapted to the goal sought and to the amount of aid granted. It suggests replacing the numerous annual uniform controls by a simplified and multi-annual control. According to France, Member states should be given more freedom in organising their controls.
Making the provisions between the first and second pillars of the CAP more airtight: to avoid fraud and dual payments, France proposes introducing a clearer distinction between the provisions on direct aid (under the common markets organisations) and that governing rural development measures. The French delegation is especially targeting the fruit and vegetable and wine sectors.
Rural development measures: France suggests taking account of other criteria for allocating agri-environmental aid than spending generated by the respect of sound agricultural management. These criteria could, for example, be difficulties come across in harsh areas (like high mountain pastures). France also calls for the payment of a lump sum, regarded as simpler and fairer, and proposes the re-establishment of Community financing for technical assistance (so as to provide better information to those who have projects and would like funding).