Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The EU Council of Agriculture Ministers met last month (18\-19 March) to discuss next steps in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  With the focus and energy of the Irish Presidency, and under the leadership of Minister Simon Coveney, the Council made significant progress.  I am pleased to report that late on the evening of 19th March agreement was reached ‘in principle’ on all of the main points of the reform package.  I am optimistic that this opens the way for full agreement between the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission this June.  From that point, and taking account of feedback from our current CAP consultation process, I will be in a position to take detailed decisions about CAP reform for Wales.  


The CAP reform package endorsed by the Council reflects Welsh priorities in a number of respects.  


I am pleased that the Council has recognised that CAP reform should take account of the different constitutional arrangements within Member States.  I have been pressing this case strongly at UK and EU level to ensure decisions on future CAP arrangements for Wales could be taken within Wales, and not left at UK (Member State) level.  The Council’s proposals for the new regulations are designed to give Member States (and ‘regions’ within them, like Wales) the flexibility to set policy that suits their circumstances within a broad CAP reform framework.  This is welcome and important because it means that the Welsh Government can decide the policy for key aspects of the CAP; such as the pace of the transition to area\-based payments and how greening is managed.  The proposed provision secures the Welsh Government’s right to make decisions for Wales in these areas without the involvement of the UK Government.  I am grateful to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson MP, for his clear support in this matter.


I have been concerned about the Commission’s original proposal for a sharp and rapid transition from historic to area\-based payments.  The farming industry must recognise and respond to the likelihood that CAP Pillar 1 direct payments will decline and perhaps eventually end.  Nevertheless, the pace and nature of change must take account of the capacity of farm businesses to adapt.  It was clearly not in Wales’ interest that farms could have been bankrupted by the implementation of CAP reform.  In this context, the Commission’s initial proposal for a 40% shift to area\-based payments in the first year of reform was too much and I am pleased with the Council proposal that this could be as low as 10%.  If the Council proposal is accepted by the Commission and the European Parliament it will give the Welsh Government the necessary latitude to design and implement a manageable transition with a timescale and steps that suit Wales, following the current ‘conversation’ with stakeholders.  


It is essential that Wales’ farms safeguard the natural environment by operating sustainably.  I have supported the Commission’s general desire to address this through its ‘greening’ proposals but I have been concerned by their rigidity and ‘one size fits all’ approach, with much attendant complexity.  Europe has a diverse range of environments and climatic conditions which have great bearing on farming practice.  I welcome the Council’s stance which maintains the possibility that nearly all Welsh farms would qualify for greening by virtue of being mostly permanent grassland.  The Council has also expanded the greening concept by introducing the possibility for Member States, or their regions, to use ‘certification schemes’; in other words schemes judged to provide environmental benefits at least equivalent to the greening criteria.  


The Council has also taken a tough stance with greening penalties, proposing that they go beyond loss of the mandatory 30% greening element of farmers’ direct payments and would be up to 37\.5% of direct payments.  Disappointingly, despite strong UK\-led pressure, the Council has not yet addressed the possibility that farmers might be paid twice for the same environmental activity (under both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 – the rural development plan). Given the European Parliament’s opposition to this concept, however, I am confident that this will not form part of the final regulations.  


It is too early to comment on what these changes to greening mean for Wales, and in particular for our Glastir schemes.  However I believe the regulations will now have the scope for me to design and implement good solutions that benefit our natural environment and recognise and fit with good farming practice and the environmental services the land provides.  


The Council has supported a permissive approach to such issues as limited ‘coupled’ financial support, areas of natural constraint, and young entrants.  I am content with the broad direction of travel because there is the means, but not the obligation, to introduce specific support for these matters under Pillar 1 or to address them using Pillar 2\.  There are arguments for either approach and I am interested in the arguments that stakeholders may put forward through the current ’conversation’.   Similarly the modest flexibility to move funds between Pillars 1 and 2 is helpful for Wales.  


It is still uncertain when CAP reform will commence.  There is every indication that Pillar 1, direct farm payments, will now start in 2015\.  Pillar 2 may still be introduced in 2014, which would pose significant challenges to ensure that both pillars complement each other.  I hope to have clarity on these points soon.  


Under the new EU institutional arrangements, the Council’s proposals now form the basis for further intensive negotiations – the so\-called ‘trilogues’ between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, beginning on 11 April and continuing until late June.  I will take great interest in how matters progress and will continue to work with the Commission and the Presidency, and to continue my dialogue with MEPs.  I will also work closely with the UK’s Devolved Administrations and the UK Government as part of the UK team; my goal is to ensure that Welsh interests are both advanced and safeguarded.  There remains much detail to work out at an official level and my Department will be closely engaged with its UK counterparts and with the Commission.


I published papers about the Rural Development Plan and Direct Payments on 31 January and 6 February respectively, setting out the issues for Wales, describing payment modelling and the contextual work done to date, and inviting responses.   These are the latest parts of my ‘conversation’ with the farming industry and stakeholders about how Wales should implement CAP reform.  I look forward to feedback in late April and May.  In conjunction, I have held three large meetings with stakeholders about the Rural Development Plan and European Structural and Investment Funds and I have had three of six planned evening meetings with farmers and stakeholders about direct payments.  All meetings have been well attended and I have been impressed by the level of engagement and interest across Wales.  


This week’s Council outcome represents a significant step towards deciding the shape of the future CAP.  Assembly Members and stakeholders will be eager to know what decisions the Welsh Government will take.  The final form of the regulations has become clearer but the trilogues, and finalising the budget at both EU and UK level, will be challenging.  I am committed to the dialogue I have begun with stakeholders and wish to weigh up responses carefully before taking decisions.  The responses to my ’conversation’ and the meetings I am holding will help inform my decisions about CAP reform.  


Assuming this week’s progress is maintained I hope to be able to make decisions about CAP reform in the summer.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Welsh Government officials who have worked hard to ensure that Welsh interests have been pitched during this process. I will update Assembly Members when there are further developments.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.







Translation:


 
Cyfarfu Cyngor Gweinidogion Amaeth yr UE mis diwethaf (18\-19 Mawrth) i drafod y camau nesaf ar gyfer diwygio’r Polisi Amaethyddol Cyffredin.  Mae llawer o waith da wedi’i wneud, diolch i egni a ffocws Llywyddiaeth Iwerddon o dan arweiniad y Gweinidog Simon Coveney.  Mae’n dda gen i ddweud y cafwyd cytundeb ‘mewn egwyddor’ ar holl brif bwyntiau’r pecyn diwygiadau yn hwyr noson 19 Mawrth.  Rwy’n optimistig y bydd hyn yn arwain at gytundeb llawn rhwng y Cyngor, Senedd Ewrop a’r Comisiwn Ewropeaidd fis Mehefin eleni.  O bryd hynny ymlaen, a chan ystyried yr ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad presennol ar y PAC, byddaf mewn sefyllfa i allu gwneud penderfyniadau manwl ynghylch diwygio’r PAC yng Nghymru.

Mae pecyn diwygio’r PAC a gymeradwywyd gan y Cyngor yn adlewyrchu blaenoriaethau Cymru mewn sawl ffordd.

Rwy’n falch iawn bod y Cyngor yn cydnabod y dylai diwygiadau’r PAC ystyried y trefniadau cyfansoddiadol gwahanol o fewn Aelod\-wladwriaethau.  Rwyf wedi bod yn dadlau’n gryf o blaid hyn ar lefel y DU a’r UE i wneud yn siŵr bod penderfyniadau am drefnu’r PAC yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol yn cael eu gwneud yng Nghymru a ddim ar lefel y DU (yr Aelod\-wladwriaeth).  Mae cynigion y Cyngor ar gyfer y rheoliadau newydd wedi’u bwriadu i roi’r hyblygrwydd i Aelod\-wladwriaethau (a’u ‘rhanbarthau’, fel Cymru) allu creu polisïau sy’n ateb eu gofynion o fewn fframwaith eang y diwygiadau i’r PAC.  Croesewir hyn.  Mae’n bwysig gan ei fod yn golygu y caiff Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun benderfynu ar y polisi ar brif agweddau’r PAC, fel pa mor gyflym y dylid symud at daliadau yn ôl arwynebedd a sut i drefnu’r taliadau gwyrdd.  Mae’r cynnig yn cadarnhau hawl Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud penderfyniadau dros Gymru yn y meysydd hyn heb gyfraniad Llywodraeth y DU.  Rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r Ysgrifennydd Gwlad dros yr Amgylchedd, Owen Paterson AS, am ei gefnogaeth glir ar y mater hwn.

Roeddwn yn bryderus ynghylch cynnig gwreiddiol y Comisiwn o blaid newid cyflym o daliadau hanesyddol i daliadau arwynebedd.  Mae angen i’r diwydiant ffermio gydnabod ac ymateb i’r tebygolrwydd y bydd taliadau uniongyrchol Colofn 1 y PAC yn lleihau ac yn y pen draw yn diflannu.  Serch hynny, rhaid i gyflymder a natur y newid ystyried gallu busnesau fferm i addasu.  Ni fyddai mantais i Gymru wrth reswm pe bai diwygiadau’r PAC yn gwneud ffermydd yn fethdalwyr.  Yn y cyd\-destun hwn, roedd cynnig gwreiddiol y Comisiwn, sef bod 40% o daliadau’r flwyddyn gyntaf yn daliadau arwynebedd, yn ormod ac rwy’n falch felly bod y Cyngor yn cynnig y gallai hyn fod mor isel â 10%.  Os bydd y Comisiwn a Senedd Ewrop yn derbyn cynnig y Cyngor, bydd yn rhoi’r rhyddid angenrheidiol i Lywodraeth Cymru ddylunio a threfnu’r newid yn hwylus, o fewn amserlen a chan ddilyn camau sy’n ateb gofyn Cymru, hynny ar ôl y sgwrs sy’n digwydd ar hyn o bryd â rhanddeiliaid.

Mae’n hanfodol bod ffermydd Cymru’n diogelu’r amgylchedd naturiol trwy weithio’n gynaliadwy.  Rwyf wedi cefnogi dyhead cyffredinol y Comisiwn mai trwy fesurau gwyrdd y mae delio â hyn ond rwy’n poeni am eu diffyg hyblygrwydd ac mai’r un mesurau sydd i bawb, a’r cymhlethdod mawr a ddaw yn sgil hynny. Ceir amrywiaeth eang o amgylcheddau a hinsoddau yn Ewrop sy’n dylanwadu’n drwm ar ddulliau ffermio.  Rwy’n falch bod y Cyngor yn sylweddoli bod posibilrwydd y gallai bron pob fferm yng Nghymru fod yn gymwys am daliad gwyrdd gan fod bron pob fferm o dan borfa barhaol.  Mae’r Cyngor wedi ehangu’r cysyniad ‘gwyrdd’ trwy ei gwneud yn bosibl i Aelod\-wladwriaethau neu’r rhanbarthau, ddefnyddio ‘cynlluniau ardystio’; mewn geiriau eraill, cynlluniau sy’n rhoi manteision amgylcheddol sydd o leiaf mor fawr â rhai’r mesurau gwyrdd.  

Mae’r Cyngor yn bendant ei safiad hefyd ynghylch cosbau gwyrdd, ac y dylid cynyddu’r gosb orfodol o 30% o elfen werdd y taliadau uniongyrchol i ffermwyr i gymaint â 45% o daliadau uniongyrchol ffermwyr.  Er mawr siom, ac er gwaethaf pwysau mawr o dan arweiniad y DU, nid yw’r Cyngor wedi delio â’r posibilrwydd y gallai ffermwyr gael eu talu ddwywaith am yr un weithgarwch amgylcheddol (o dan golofn 1 a cholofn 2 – y cynllun datblygu gwledig).  O gofio gwrthwynebiad Senedd Ewrop i’r cysyniad serch hynny, rwy’n hyderus na fydd hyn yn rhan o’r rheoliadau terfynol.

Mae’n rhy fuan dweud eto beth fydd effaith y newidiadau hyn i’r mesurau gwyrdd ar Gymru, yn enwedig ein cynlluniau Glastir.  Fodd bynnag, rwy’n credu y bydd lle yn y rheoliadau i mi allu dylunio a chynnig atebion da er lles ein hamgylchedd naturiol sy’n cydnabod ac yn ategu arferion ffermio da a’r gwasanaethau amgylcheddol y mae’r tir yn eu darparu.

Mae’r Cyngor o blaid rhoi’r hawl i Aelod\-wladwriaethau gael dewis drostynt eu hunain ynghylch materion fel cymorth cysylltiedig, ardaloedd â chyfyngiadau naturiol a newydd\-ddyfodiaid ifanc.  Rwy’n fodlon â’r trywydd bras hwn gan ei fod yn rhoi’r modd heb orfodaeth i gyflwyno cymorth penodol ar gyfer y materion hyn o dan Golofn 1 neu i fynd i’r afael â nhw yng Ngholofn 2\.  Ceir dadleuon o blaid y naill a’r llall ac rwy’n disgwyl ymlaen at glywed barn y rhanddeiliaid trwy’r ymgynghoriad presennol.  Yn yr un modd, mae’r hyblygrwydd bychan sydd gennym i symud arian rhwng Colofnau 1 a 2 yn ddefnyddiol i Gymru.

Mae’n ansicr o hyd pryd y bydd diwygiadau’r PAC yn dechrau.  Ceir pob argoel y bydd taliadau uniongyrchol Colofn 1 yn dechrau yn 2015\.  Gallai Colofn 2 gael ei chyflwyno yn 2014\.  Byddai hynny’n gwneud hi’n anodd sicrhau bod y ddwy Golofn yn ategu ei gilydd.  Gobeithio y daw pethau’n glir ynghylch y pwyntiau hyn cyn hir.  

O dan drefniadau sefydliadol yr UE, bydd cynigion y Cyngor yn awr yn sail i ragor o drafod dwys teirffordd rhwng y Cyngor, y Comisiwn a Senedd Ewrop, gan ddechrau ar 11 Ebrill a chan barhau hyd at ddiwedd Mehefin.  Byddaf yn cadw llygad barcud ar hynt pethau a byddaf yn dal i weithio gyda’r Comisiwn a’r Llywydd, ac yn parhau i siarad ag ASEau.  Byddaf yn cydweithio’n glos â Gweinyddiaethau Datganoledig y DU a Llywodraeth y DU fel aelod o dîm y DU; fy nod yw diogelu a hybu buddiannau Cymru.  Mae llawer o waith manwl i’w wneud eto ar lefel swyddogol a bydd fy Adran yn cydweithio’n glos ag adrannau cyfatebol yn y DU a chyda’r Comisiwn.

Cyhoeddais bapurau am y Cynllun Datblygu Gwledig a Thaliadau Uniongyrchol, y naill ar 31 Ionawr a’r llall ar 6 Chwefror, gan nodi pynciau llosg Cymru a disgrifio’r gwaith cyd\-destunol a modelu taliadau sydd wedi’i wneud hyd yma, a chan wahodd ymatebion.  Dyma rannau diweddaraf fy sgwrs â’r diwydiant ffermio a rhanddeiliaid ynghylch sut y dylai Cymru roi’r diwygiadau i’r PAC ar waith.  Edrychaf ymlaen at weld yr ymateb yn niwedd Ebrill a Mai.  Law yn llaw â hynny, rwyf wedi cynnal tri chyfarfod mawr â rhanddeiliaid am y Cynllun Datblygu Gwledig a Chronfeydd Strwythurol a Buddsoddi Ewrop ac rwyf wedi cynnal tri o’r chwe chyfarfod nos â ffermwyr a rhanddeiliaid am daliadau uniongyrchol.  Mae llawer o bobl wedi dod i bob cyfarfod a da oedd gweld lefel y cyfranogi a’r diddordeb ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

Mae canlyniadau cyfarfod y Cyngor yr wythnos hon yn gam arwyddocaol at benderfynu ar siâp y PAC yn y dyfodol.  Mae Aelodau’r Cynulliad a rhanddeiliaid yn awyddus i wybod beth fydd penderfyniadau Llywodraeth Cymru.  Mae ffurf derfynol y rheoliadau wedi dod yn gliriach ond bydd y cyfarfodydd teirffordd a chytuno ar y gyllideb ar lefel yr UE a’r DU yn waith anodd.  Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i’r ddeialog rwyf wedi’i dechrau â rhanddeiliaid a byddaf am bwyso a mesur yr ymatebion yn ofalus cyn penderfynu ar unrhyw beth.  Bydd yr ymatebion i ‘fy sgwrs’ a’m cyfarfodydd yn bwydo fy mhenderfyniadau ynghylch diwygiadau’r PAC.

Gan gymryd y bydd gwaith da’r wythnos yn parhau, rwy’n gobeithio gallu gwneud penderfyniadau am y PAC yn yr haf.  Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru am eu gwaith caled i sicrhau bod buddiannau Cymru’n amlwg yn ystod y broses hon.  Caiff Aelodau’r Cynulliad fwy o wybodaeth gennyf pan fydd yna ddatblygiadau.   


Caiff y datganiad ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i aelodau.  Os bydd aelodau eisiau i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Cynulliad yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny.