Highlights from the European Parliament's report on the CAP.
It has been confirmed that the EU Commission will produce its paper on the CAP post-2013, in November 2010. This will be discussed by EU farm ministers at the Farm Council during the winter. After a formal public consultation in early 2011, legislative proposals will be published at the end of the Hungarian Presidency in June or July 2011. There are then likely to be further discussions with the European Parliament (EP) during the rest of 2011 and probably through into 2012 to arrive at an agreed compromise.
Over the last few months many papers have been delivered in an effort to influence the debate on the future of the CAP post-2013. But one which might hold more weight than most is that of the EP. Due to the result of the Lisbon Treaty, the Parliament now has 'co-decision' powers over farm policy. This means it has an equal say with the Farm Council when EU farm ministers meet.
The EP report, drafted by the Scottish Lib Dem MEP George Lyon, has no official weight in the reform process. However, the views expressed will influence the formal proposals published by the commission in November.
In terms of the overall objectives of the CAP, the EP is of the opinion that supporting the production of safe and nutritional food should be the primary aim.
What it terms 'second-generation' aims, such as environmental land management and animal welfare, should be complementary to food production, and not replace it.
We highlight some of the main points of the report.
- The CAP budget should be maintained at least at current levels (and there should be no co-financing of the CAP by member states).
- The two-pillar model of the CAP is to be retained.
- The distribution of direct aids should be "fair to farmers in both new and old member states" (although the report does not give any criteria on how this fairness should be achieved).
- Farmers should get a top-up payment for measures to mitigate climate change.
- EU production standards in animal welfare, food safety and environmental protection need to be maintained, with imports also being required to meet the same quality criteria.
- Producers' power in the supply chain should be strengthened, and more risk management instruments to deal with market volatility introduced.
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