5 The
Commission's Communication: the CAP towards 2020
83. The Commission launched the debate on CAP
reform through a Communication published on 18 November 2010 entitled
The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and
territorial challenges of the future.[127]
84. The Communication sets out the challenges
and the objectives for the post-2013 CAP followed by three options
for future reform. Option 2 is the only one that is considered
in any detail and is clearly the preferred option. This option
outlines moderate reform to Pillar 1 payments while retaining
the basic two pillar structure and the existing market measures
(Box 5). Option 1, or enhanced status quo, proposes retaining
the existing structure but altering the distribution of direct
payments to address the issue of equity between Member States.
Dr Moss describes this as the "the fallback option if agreement
cannot be reached on Option 2".[128]
Option 3, the radical reform option, envisages phasing
out the Single Payment Scheme and most market measures while strengthening
environment and climate change measures. The CLA describes this
as the British/Swedish vision and notes it has "plainly commanded
no general support despite being on offer for five years".[129]
| Box 5: The Commission's proposals for the future CAP—Option 2
Direct Payments:
- More equitable distribution between Member States
- New design consisting of four components
- a basic payment
- additional payment for agri-environment activities ('greening')
- additional payment for farmers in areas of specific natural constraints
- voluntary coupled support component for specific sectors and regions
- New support scheme for small farms.
- Capping of the basic payment modified by consideration of salaried labour
- Simplification of cross-compliance rules
- Market Measures:
- Retain as a safety net in case of price crisis but consider extending existing measures to other products
- Policy tools to improve the functioning of the food chain
Rural Development:
- Focus support on the environment, climate change, innovation and restructuring and strengthen local/regional approach
- Strengthened risk management tool-kit including an income stabilisation tool
- Possible redistribution of funds more objectively among Member States
|
85. The European Agriculture and Fisheries Council published
its conclusions on the Commission's Communication in March 2011;
however five Member States (UK, Sweden, Denmark, Malta, Latvia
and Lithuania) refused to support those conclusions.[130]
86. A report from the European Parliament is
currently being discussed by the Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee. A resolution is expected to be voted on in a plenary
meeting of the European Parliament in early June 2011. The Commission
is expected to produce draft legislative proposals and a further
Communication in autumn 2011.
127 COM(2010)672/5, November 2010 Back
128
Ev 124 Back
129
Ev 114 Back
130
Council of the European Union, Presidency conclusions on the
communication from the Commission: The CAP towards 2020: meeting
the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the
future, 3077th Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting,
17 March 2011, www.consilium.europa.eu; "Majority of Member
States support strong CAP", Europolitics, 18 March
2011. Back
|
