This week, we got a flavour of what we might expect in the next CAP. The two-day EU Outlook Conference hosted by Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan in Brussels was opened by Commission President Jean-Claude Junker, with Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete and Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella also participating.

Following on from his state of the union address in September, Junker reiterated his commitment to agriculture. He said that half a century ago, Europe wasn’t self-sufficient in food, and that he wasn’t comfortable with water being worth more than milk. His announcement that there will be a communication on the next CAP by the end of 2017 has been tailed for some time. This is similar to a white paper in Irish or UK governments in that it indicates Commission thinking but has no binding or legal effect. He also highlighted that the Commission will go out to consultation early in the new year.

Commissioner Hogan then set out his vision on the next CAP, mindful no doubt that his environment and climate change colleagues were following him. Reflecting the theme of the conference, Climate Change and Resource Availability: Challenges for EU Agriculture, he outlined the challenge he faced. He will be trying in the next CAP to ensure food security alongside a fair income for farmers while at the same time getting agriculture to adapt to climate change and make a more conscious use of natural resources.

Hogan distilled his own thoughts on CAP into three particular themes: greater market resilience, more sustainable agricultural production and progress on generational renewal.

Market resilience

He recognised that the difficulties faced in the last two years have led the Commission to deploy its full toolkit. While claiming it helped, the commissioner is of the view that the toolkit itself needs reviewing. He queried if:

  • Existing tools allow us to intervene sufficiently and quickly enough at a time of crisis.
  • Farmers should have more built-in measures to help them in times of crisis on the basis of a risk management approach.
  • Producers and processors have the ability to diversify their markets or to find new markets in times of market loss.

    • Hogan declared his “determination that basic income support and an effective safety net will continue as an essential element of any new CAP through a system of direct payments”.

    Referencing his recent taskforce report, he emphasised his commitment “to strengthen the position of farmers in the food chain”, something that will be welcomed by farmer representatives across Europe. We await what shape that takes as it works its way through his Commission colleagues, many of whom are not as persuaded as he is about regulation.

    Sustainable production

    While the commissioner was clear the next CAP will have “to have a higher level of environmental ambition”, he was also mindful of food security. The underlying theme was getting m0re output from less resources and referred to research and new technology as the means of achieving this. In recognising the need to protect the rural environment, he made a direct link to the role of farmers as “the boots on the ground”.

    An aging farming population is an issue across the EU, with just 6% of farmers under 35, while 55% are 55 or older. Aside from the obvious benefits of renewal, the commissioner identified younger farmers as those most likely to be innovative in meeting the increasing sustainability challenges. He identified the need to address the barriers to entry for young farmers, particularly finance and red tape, again highlighting the need for simplification.

    While commissioners Cañete and Vella emphasised the issues of their brief as a priority, both recognised the positive contribution of farmers to the EU.

    Comment

    Despite Commissioner Hogan’s commitment to a farmer-friendly CAP, we cannot underestimate the difficulties next time around. The environment-focused NGOs will want a more robust commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the case for direct payment support will meet plenty of opposition. It was a coup to get the other two commissioners to share the platform; it means the CAP will be centre stage. Getting the support of these two colleagues will be a challenge, but it is essential to ensure its progression through the Commission. Farmers across Europe will have to be persuasive in getting organisations that are not instinctively supportive to come on board.

    It is clear the next CAP won’t be delivered on the back of promises but real and tangible commitments against which we can expect payment to be linked to delivery.