Key facts
- A key report from European Parliament agriculture MEPs will be published on June 12.
- The report marks the beginning of a crucial phase in negotiations for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
- The report, led by German MEP Norbert Lins, differs from the European Commission's proposals in several areas.
- Key differences include reintroducing CRISS support, removing further degressivity proposals, and committing to rural development funding.
- The report also calls for the removal of the 'Do No Significant Harm' principle from CAP conditionality.
- The overall CAP budget remains a central issue, with the European Commission proposing a reduction from €386 billion to €296 billion.
A significant report from agriculture MEPs within the European Parliament is set to be published on June 12, marking the commencement of a crucial phase in negotiations for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Irish MEP Barry Cowen highlighted the report's importance as a milestone for the future of European agriculture, stating that negotiations and amendments between political groups will now begin in earnest.
The report, developed by German MEP Norbert Lins, introduces several key differences compared to the European Commission's proposals from the previous summer. These include the reintroduction of the Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), the removal of proposals for further degressivity, and a commitment to long-term funding for rural development programmes like LEADER. Notably, Lins' report advocates for the removal of the 'Do No Significant Harm' principle from CAP conditionality, a principle introduced by the Commission that requires economic activities receiving CAP payments to avoid causing significant environmental issues.
Cowen emphasized that the overarching issue remains the CAP budget. The European Commission's current proposal suggests a reduction in funding from approximately €386 billion to €296 billion, while a recent European Parliament report has called for a substantially larger allocation of around €433 billion. Cowen stated that the Commission's proposed reduction is unacceptable, arguing that food security, environmental ambition, and generational renewal all necessitate investment, and that farmers cannot be expected to do more with less funding. He expressed belief in a growing coalition supporting a stronger CAP budget to shape European agriculture for the next decade.