The Council of EU ministers has formally discussed the next CAP twice this year. In March, the Maltese presidency set priorities centered on risk management in the face of market instability and natural or sanitary risks, environmental protection, rural jobs, generational renewal and “maintaining a market orientation” while strengthening farmers’ position in the food chain.

Ministers added simplification to the list and their official statement added that “most delegations asked for adequate funding for the future CAP” – a sign that despite the UK leaving the table, Nordic views finding the policy too expensive are still being voiced. A similar debate emerged from last month’s council, with Spain again leading calls for retained funding.

Most ministers have so far defended the existing two-pillar structure, but divergences emerge in the details. Some countries want convergence of direct payments across the EU; others want more coupled supports while some want more flexibility in fund transfers between pillars and national schemes.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed’s public comments have so far focused on retaining sufficient funding for the CAP. France and Germany will be the two heavyweights at the Council table. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is tipped to be re-elected next month, and her party’s manifesto promises to keep the two-pillar model and direct payments while targeting more support to active and young farmers. The manifesto of new French president Emmanuel Macron was a lot more market-oriented, favouring schemes that kick in if prices collapse, including through “supply regulation”, much like the milk supply reduction scheme introduced during the recent dairy crisis. The first decision by new French Minister for Agriculture Stéphane Traver was to transfer 4.2% of his country’s pillar 1 funds to pillar 2 for the rest of the existing CAP, indicating a preference for rural development-type measures over direct payments.

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Full series: CAP 2020