Redistributive payment likely part of CAP deal

A redistributive payment on the first hectares of a farm looks likely to be part of the new CAP, says EU agricultural policy expert Alan Matthews.

He said the redistributive payment has received broad support among EU agriculture ministers, since it was added as an amendment to rules introduced by the Irish presidency for direct payments within member states.

However, the proposed redistributive payment would be voluntary each year for each member state, says Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy at Trinity College, and President of the European Association of Agricultural Economists.