Some 11,450 submissions have been received by the EU in the first two and a half weeks of the consultation on proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020.
The consultation was launched by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan on 2 February, with an online survey inviting respondents to answer 34 questions which include five open-ended questions that allow respondents to express a fuller view.
The European Commission also launched an impact assessment document outlining five options for CAP reform alongside the questionnaire.
The impact assessment considers everything from a future with no CAP at all to a major redistribution of monies to “smaller environmentally friendly farms”.
Listen to "Phil Hogan on the next moves on CAP, including the definition of active farmers" on Spreaker.
The large response in the opening weeks of the consultation period will not come as a surprise to Brussels watchers. There is a strong feeling that the 2013 CAP reform failed to deliver the environmental benefits they expected, while the complexities of greening and Pillar II schemes have caused annoyance to farmers.
Boots on the ground
Commissioner Hogan is on record as saying that direct payments remain an important element of the CAP and that farmers are the essential ‘‘boots on the ground’’ that will deliver the environmental benefits and improvements that the EU requires to comply with global commitments made at COP 21 in Paris and COP 22 in Marrakesh last November.
The response is open for 12 weeks and will be followed by an open stakeholder event in Brussels. After this, the Commission will bring forward proposals before the end of the year.
Read more
Analysis: transparency after the farm gate
Some 11,450 submissions have been received by the EU in the first two and a half weeks of the consultation on proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020.
The consultation was launched by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan on 2 February, with an online survey inviting respondents to answer 34 questions which include five open-ended questions that allow respondents to express a fuller view.
The European Commission also launched an impact assessment document outlining five options for CAP reform alongside the questionnaire.
The impact assessment considers everything from a future with no CAP at all to a major redistribution of monies to “smaller environmentally friendly farms”.
Listen to "Phil Hogan on the next moves on CAP, including the definition of active farmers" on Spreaker.
The large response in the opening weeks of the consultation period will not come as a surprise to Brussels watchers. There is a strong feeling that the 2013 CAP reform failed to deliver the environmental benefits they expected, while the complexities of greening and Pillar II schemes have caused annoyance to farmers.
Boots on the ground
Commissioner Hogan is on record as saying that direct payments remain an important element of the CAP and that farmers are the essential ‘‘boots on the ground’’ that will deliver the environmental benefits and improvements that the EU requires to comply with global commitments made at COP 21 in Paris and COP 22 in Marrakesh last November.
The response is open for 12 weeks and will be followed by an open stakeholder event in Brussels. After this, the Commission will bring forward proposals before the end of the year.
Read more
Analysis: transparency after the farm gate
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: