The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget should be maintained and there should be more targeted support for family farms, a report from the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament has said.

It also wants a method of payment calculation that moves away from the historic structure and wants CAP to support farmers more efficiently to cope with price and income volatility.

The report also express regret at the lateness of starting the process, pointing out that it may not be concluded before European Parliament elections in 2019.

Watch first vice-president of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness discuss CAP 2020 with Phelim O'Neill in our video below:

While the report is positive in tone to the ambitions of European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan set out in his communication published on 28 November, it does raise a number of points. In particular it highlights the flexibility already available to member states and points out the danger of distorting competition within the single market.

It is the first time the committee has tabled its thoughts on the CAP 2020 proposals.

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The EU's agriculture committee has tabled its first thoughts on the CAP 2020 proposals which will be debated in the EU Parliament on 12 March.