Brussels, 21/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, Ministers of agriculture from EU Member States in Brussels, adopted a declaration in which they illustrate the difficulties to be encountered in implementation (as from 1 January 2005 of the eco-aid conditions decided on in June 2003 during reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). According to this principle, single decoupled payments are granted to farmers on the conditions that respect certain criteria (animal welfare, product quality and safety etc.).
This declarations was adopted at the request of several Member States (France, followed by Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Austria and Belgium). During the last meeting of the Special Agricultural Committee (SAC) on 13 December, these countries underlined the problems encountered in implementing controls systems and sanctions. France, in particular, asked the Commission to show leniency during the first year of application of the eco-conditions. The declaration adopted by the Council only responds partially to these countries' concerns. According to this text, the Commission: is committed to organising, after the first year of application of the provisions on eco-conditions, exchanges of view on the experience gained and, if needs be, will propose amendments; make recommendations and guidelines for better application of the system and present a report by 31 December 2007 on the application of the system for eco-conditions, from the provisions if this proves necessary.
Simplification of CAP
The Council will also be discussing measures that it could take for simplifying legislation on the CAP. Agriculture and rural development Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, indicated that the Commission would present a reflection document on this theme in October or November 2005 under the British presidency. This text is expected to analyse the possibilities and limits of such a simplification. The Commissioner underlined, however, that simplification of provisions was not expected to reduce or get rid of controls.