2020 CAP reform deal edges forward
CAP reform efforts to better target direct payments and moves towards member state discretion in this regard were welcomed by Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle, as CAP reform in 2020 edged forward with a large majority of ministers in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels last Monday agreeing conclusions on the reform.
Mr Doyle, representing Ireland at the Council, gave other indicators of how Ireland might approach reform, when he said some flexibility could be given at member state level to use the multi-million euro crisis reserve to deal with exceptional events. Farm inspections should focus more on rectification of unintentional errors, rather than on punishment, he said.
On higher environmental goals for the next CAP, the Minister of State welcomed recognition that farmers must be adequately remunerated.
“The current focus on costs incurred and income foregone adds complexity to scheme design and approval and fails to fully acknowledge the real value of environmental measures.”
He said generational renewal is a critical priority for the agriculture sector, and flexibility is needed at EU and national level for incentives to energise young farmers. The Council’s conclusions on CAP reform were backed by 23 of the 28 member states, including Ireland. Only Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia did not agree with the conclusions.
Mr Doyle said: “I recognise the new CAP must deliver greater added value, including by making the policy greener and more results driven. Of course we’ll need a strong budget to deliver on these objectives.”
Mr Doyle urged his EU colleagues to work hard together to ensure the new CAP will deliver real simplification for farmers and administrators.
He said greening and cross-compliance requirements must be streamlined.
The ministers’ conclusions call for the CAP’s added value in delivering on new challenges to be enhanced; member states empowered to take local decisions; agricultural resilience to be strengthened; the contribution to environmental objectives to be fostered; and quality of life in rural areas to be improved.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union farmers’ organisations and agricultural co-ops, Copa and Cogeca, Thomas Magnusson said the conclusions support many of their demands, especially real simplification of the CAP for farmers.
“The Commission’s plan on the future of food and farming is a good starting point for us. The focus on smart farming is very positive as it can improve the competitiveness of the sector and enable farmers to produce more using less resources,” he said. “But both the new delivery model and the new green architecture still need further clarification.
“Guarantees are needed to ensure the CAP truly remains a common policy without any renationalisation and that it is backed by a strong budget. Targeted support which goes to genuine, active farmers is underlined too, which is a priority for Copa and Cogeca,” Magnusson concluded.
