EU Brings Reform of CAP Step Closer

EU - On the first day of the European Council meeting for agriculture on Monday, ministers were briefed on the state of play of the trilogues on the reform of the common agricultural policy.
calendar icon 14 May 2013
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The council debated more specifically on active farmers, the young farmers’ scheme and the small farmers’ scheme.

Ministers were briefed on the state of play of trilogues between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

The Presidency also focused the orientation debate on certain outstanding issues, which were raised during the trilogues.

Twelve trilogues took place since the beginning of the negotiations in April this year - four on the single CMO regulation, three each on the direct payments and the rural development regulations and two on the horizontal regulation.

As regards direct payments, the Presidency said it wanted to hear the views from the member states on active farmers, the young farmers’ scheme and the small farmers’ scheme.

Member states supported the Presidency in its work to find a compromise with the European Parliament and the Commission before the end of June.

On active farmer requirements, several delegations could consider the Presidency proposal for a short common negative list of criteria excluding potential beneficiaries, if member states would have the flexibility to complete this list according to national needs.

However some member states repeated their opposition to a mandatory negative list.

Although diverging views were expressed on the voluntary or mandatory nature of the young farmers’ scheme and the small farmers’ scheme, a number of member states pointed out their willingness to stay open for possible flexibility on these issues.

The trilogues are covering the four main texts of the CAP reform:

the proposal for a regulation establishing rules for direct payments to farmers (direct payment regulation) ;

the proposal for a regulation establishing a common organisation of the markets in

agricultural products (single common market organisation (CMO) regulation);

the proposal for a regulation on support for rural development (rural development

regulation) ;

the proposal for a regulation on the financing, management and monitoring of the CAP (horizontal regulation) .

In March, the Council reached agreement on a general approach on the reform of the CAP.

This general approach constituted a political agreement in the Council on the CAP reform package enabling negotiations to be launched between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission with a view to a political agreement in June this year.

The European Parliament voted on its position at first reading on the CAP reform package on 13 March 2013.

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