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CAP to the future
Brussels intends to make the EU’s farm policy not only better suited to future challenges, but also lighter and more palatable. But will its budget also be going on a diet?
The European institutions are currently in discussions regarding several possible paths for yet another overhaul of the complex and controversial Common Agricultural Policy.
Not just for farmers
At 63 years old and with six major reforms under its belt, the EU’s farm policy is, in the eyes of some, ready for retirement. This is why Brussels is looking at giving it yet another facelift, as indicated in its new “Vision for Agriculture and Food", the strategic roadmap for the EU's agri-food sector post 2027 that was released in February.
Its aim? To address economic, environmental and social challenges, as Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, told the European Parliament plenary in March.
Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food (in English)
“First, an attractive and predictable agri-food sector that ensures a fair standard of living and leverages new income opportunities. […] Secondly, a competitive and resilient agri-food sector in the face of global challenges - our farmers insist on fair global competition and the vision clearly states that we will push for a fairer global level playing field. […] Thirdly, we need a future proof agri-food sector that works hand in hand with nature. […] The fourth priority area is about strengthening the link between food and consumers and promoting a fair living and working conditions in vibrant and well connected coastal and rural areas.”
The so-called Vision is now under discussion by member states as well as by MEPs in the agriculture committee.
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Brussels will table its CAP reform proposals with a view to their adoption on 16 July, together with others that form part of the EU's next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2028-2034 period.
The bloc’s agriculture commissioner is keen to ensure that the CAP’s massive budget – 387 billion euros – is not slashed too severely in what are expected to be grim negotiations on the MFF. Alongside “traditional” priorities, such as the cohesion policy (which made up 35 per cent of the previous MFF) and agriculture (some 33 per cent), a number of new ones, in particular defence and security, have gained ground.
However, according to Romanian MEP Daniel Buda, from centre-right party EPP; agriculture and security go hand in hand, as he told his colleagues in the European Parliament during the latest plenary session in Strasbourg. Radio România reports.
Daniel Buda, Member of the European parliament – EPP, Romania (in Romanian)
“Today, we need to feed 450 million Europeans, while globally, over 700 million people suffer from hunger. But the sector's figures are worrying: farming incomes are 40 per cent lower than in any other sector, and only 12 per cent of farmers are under 40. Without firm measures, Europe risks becoming dependent on imports, losing control over its own food security. And dependence creates vulnerabilities […]. What we need today are policies to protect European production, to cut red tape, and above all – and I emphasise above all – we need adequate funding. Money for agriculture is not money for farmers. It represents the investment needed to prevent hunger being used as a weapon of war. If we want a strong Europe, we must ensure that it is fed. And that starts with supporting our farmers."
This view is shared by Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, president of the Portuguese Farmers' Confederation. In his role as permanent representative to the EU, this seasoned diplomat took part in negotiations on previous CAP reforms. In an interview with our colleagues at Radio Renascença, he stresses that we must continue to pursue food sovereignty as an end goal.
Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, President of the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (in Portuguese)
“Of course, we cannot look at security exclusively from a military point of view – although that is indispensable. Our aim is to draw attention to the fact that defence also involves food production. Without this, there can be no strategic autonomy. It is therefore very important at this point in time to take three major parameters into account: security, energy and agriculture.”
Mendonça e Moura adds that, to ensure Europe’s security, the EU must make sure that it remains competitive on the global food market.
Simplify, simplify, simplify
Meanwhile, since mid-February, the European Commission has been engaged in an extensive exercise to simplify its legislation through a series of so-called ‘omnibus’ packages. Several of these will apply to the CAP, which has long been slammed by farmers for imposing unnecessary administrative hurdles and controls. This simplification will also help steer the policy in the direction set out in the ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’.
On 14 May, an initial package of measures was set out, aimed at reducing red tape for both farmers and administrations and making the implementation of certain CAP rules more flexible. According to the Commission, these changes could save farmers up to 1.6 billion euros per year, and national administrations some 210 million euros. National governments would also be given more flexibility and autonomy in managing subsidies.
The plan is also to place greater emphasis on socioeconomic support for certain categories of farmers. Small farmers, in particular, will see payment formalities lessen. They will also be exempted from certain environmental rules designed as ‘cross-compliance’ requirements. At the same time, they will remain eligible for eco-scheme payments that ‘reward’ environmentally friendly farming.
But José María Castilla, a director at ASAJA, a Spanish association of young farmers, says there is still a long way to go. He tells esRadio Castilla y León that so-called “productive” agriculture is not given the prominence it deserves.
José María Castilla, Director of the ASAJA office in Brussels (in Spanish)
“We regret the lack of concrete measures focused more on professional agriculture, on productive agriculture – in other words, the kind of agriculture that ensures food security, that allows us to be competitive in the international arena, and that also makes it possible for us to achieve a positive trade balance.”
At the same time, environmental organisations are sounding the alarm, fearing that slashing red tape will lead to the unravelling of the CAP's environmental measures.
This will not happen, Christophe Hansen tells Luxembourg’s radio 100,7, insisting that the bloc’s environmental ambitions will remain unchanged under the new rules.
Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food (in Luxembourgish)
“I can say very clearly that it is exactly the opposite. We have ambitions that remain strong and unchanged. Yet over the past three years, since the latest agricultural policy was introduced, we have noticed that some things do not work very well in practice. But with the proposed simplification, with grassland, for example, we have actually managed to achieve greater environmental protection and greater climate protection. I think it is important that we bring environmental performance into line with the reality of agriculture. And that is exactly what we are doing here.”
The Commission will present another simplification package before the end of the year, this time focused on environmental and food safety policies that go beyond the CAP.