Opinion of the Committee of the Regions — A simplified CAP for Europe — a success for all
Date: 2009-10-07
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: aid system, common agricultural policy, economic and social cohesion, exchange of information, reform of the CAP, simplification of formalities








C_2010079EN.01003301.xml










27.3.2010   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 79/33





Opinion of the Committee of the Regions — ‘A simplified CAP for Europe — a success for all’
(2010/C 79/07)


I.   POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,
Introduction






1.


notes that this opinion on the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is set against an exceptional economic background and comes in the middle of an ongoing schedule, in between the current CAP health check and the preparation of a revised CAP for the period after 2013, focusing specifically on the future budget perspectives;










2.


stresses that the evolving global economic and climate change situation allows us to get a better understanding of and clearer framework for common support policies in sectors like agriculture, enabling us to improve the conditions in which this policy is regulated in all areas of production and in all regions and, in the process, building the policy's foundations;










3.


considers that in this context, the value of the concept of Community preference, which stops short of protectionism, and of purchasing local products is clearly apparent and responds to the full spectrum of global food needs, which is still a burning issue;










4.


stresses that the Common Agricultural Policy must not only take account of high-quality food production but also of conditions relating inter alia to key strategies such as land use and rural development (strategies for forestry and areas suffering from natural handicaps). This approach must also meet the objectives of territorial cohesion in the major geographical groupings in continental Europe and the outermost regions;










5.


considers that, in accordance with the Committee of the Regions’ previous opinions, simplification of the CAP must be directed towards all those working in the field, but must also aim to help the public to understand the need for its existence, in order to defend one of Europe's economic pillars;










6.


believes that the CAP must look to the future and in line with the resolution ahead of the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen, adopted at the CoR plenary session in June 2009, climate change needs to be mainstreamed into agriculture with a view to reducing energy consumption and the production of greenhouse gases;




Chronological observations on the text of the communication






7.


specifies that the simplified CAP must be easy to read and readily understood by farmers, economic and institutional operators and the public of the European Union;










8.


draws the attention of the European Commission (hereinafter: Commission) and the Member States to the fact that simplification of the CAP is not the same as reform of the CAP with a change in the rules for its application. Simplification must be seen as a development. In particular, it must be ensured that any changes in the CAP rules respect the production cycles of all agricultural products;










9.


urges the Commission and the Member States to seize the opportunity of the simplification of the CAP to provide the European public and farmers with relevant, full and objective information, by continually drawing attention to the CAP's objectives, and the timetable and means made available for implementing it;










10.


points out that a CAP simplified for all must also be a CAP that is understood by all;










11.


alerts the Commission to the fact that farmers and the public at grassroots level are not aware of the simplification, although it has been proceeding since 2005;










12.


wonders if the cleaning up of the agricultural rules is really meaningful given that it only covers the texts relating to dairy products. Although it does require particular attention, the Committee is surprised that the Commission has restricted itself to this sector alone;










13.


holds that, in the context of the current economic crisis, Europe's agricultural sector, which is covered by a common policy, must be entitled to draw on state aid adapted to emergency situations (whether relating to the climate, health or economic realms) whilst maintaining and reaffirming the foundations of the CAP (see the CoR's previous opinions);










14.


considers that, in addition to the Commission's approach of creating an expert group, both the Member States and regional and local authorities should also promote exchanges of experience, carry out comparative studies and identify the most successful achievements, particularly in the area of reducing administrative costs. Like the Commission, each Member State should ensure that stakeholders from the agricultural sector are involved;










15.


points out that, under the cover of simplification, the Commission has actually introduced reforms that have led to major restructuring in all regions;










16.


wonders about the perception that the single payment system is ‘farmer friendly’ and believes that the inclusion of landscape elements such as hedges and walls is a measure of general benefit;










17.


welcomes the fact that the Commission has taken account of the need for impact analyses and regular evaluations. This approach must also be incorporated in the shaping of a CAP that is better adapted to the regions and professional stakeholders by 2013, on the basis of the health check and simplification;










18.


draws attention to the importance of better consultations with local and regional authorities and the need to include the CAP in the process of multi-level governance, as set out by the Committee of the Regions in its White Paper, with a view to making the process of European integration more effective, balanced and open to broader participation;










19.


stresses the need for IT data at all levels of the Commission to be made available for agricultural use on the ground. Electronic exchanges of information must involve all the various players;










20.


is surprised at the priorities selected in the action plan and would like them to be ordered and presented in rank of importance;










21.


asks the Commission to ensure that cross-compliance is maintained as a fundamental principle of the CAP direct payments; believes, though, that determined simplification is necessary, laying down requirements for producers that are rational and that can, in consequence, be objectively checked by the authorities administering them;










22.


urges the Commission to demonstrate that the single CMO represents a genuine simplification that is of benefit to those working in the sector, the public and the regions, and that this applies to all the Commission's implementing provisions regarding the Member States and the regions;










23.


reaffirms that the reduction in the administrative burden must apply to all forms of production to ensure that it benefits the regions, the public and farmers. In addition, the Committee stresses that any reduction must also meet the objectives of the CAP;










24.


raises questions with regard to the Commission's general statements on coupled support schemes and asks the Commission whether directing the CAP towards further decoupling is really a simplification which respects the differences between regions. The Committee also wishes simplification of the CAP through the health check to lead to a better and fairer CAP for all, with aid distributed more equitably between farmers, sectors and regions;










25.


once again draws the Commission's attention to the need to take account of all the forms of agricultural production and their specific cycles;










26.


in any case, wishes the cross-compliance regulations to be harmonised across the European Union, on the basis of the lowest common denominator, and stresses that this is a priority;










27.


alerts the Commission to the need for complete information to be provided in ways that the public and farmers can understand;










28.


maintains that the quality policy must be one of the cornerstones of the CAP and should not be abandoned;










29.


emphasises that local and regional authorities must be involved in exchanges of best practice and the quest for simplification;










30.


wishes emphasis to be placed on policies to make the various European sectors still more professionalised, thereby enabling Europe's agri-food sector - one of Europe's economic pillars - to continue to develop and grow to adapt to global economic and climate changes;










31.


calls for CAP instruments to be more responsive to sectors facing crises (be they related to markets, climate, social issues or health, among other things). Simple tools need to be provided within an effective institutional mechanism, enabling resources to be pooled to assist production and thereby guarantee decent incomes for farmers dealing with such crises;










32.


endorses the Commission's message encouraging Member States to move towards greater simplification to enable them to use their powers within the common policy more effectively. Subsidiarity must not lead to more complicated and burdensome procedures which could undermine respect for a European agro-food model;










33.


reaffirms that the priority accorded to rural development must bring added value at local level rather than substituting for the policies of Member States or local authorities. Rural development must be integrated into the major European Strategies (LISBON-GOTEBORG), within the basic framework of territorial cohesion and its corollary of solidarity, on the one hand, and the key policies needed to develop the European continent, on the other, whilst continuing to include agricultural and para-agricultural projects within the framework of LEADER-type partnerships;




Conclusion






34.


feels that it is important to restate its commitment to maintaining a Common Agricultural Policy and its rejection of any form of renationalisation. This policy which, it should be remembered, is being conducted in a context of economic crisis, is a fair way of regulating markets. It must evolve by responding to the needs of all the various branches and in all the various regions of the European Union, in accordance with a framework of sustainable development. It is vital to incorporate this approach into a CAP that is focused towards 2013 and accords with the framework of the European financial perspectives;










35.


wonders if the simplification of the CAP currently being proposed by the Commission really accords with the objectives and guidelines which have emerged from the recent debates on the health check, and recommends pursuing efforts at national and European level, in close consultation with regional and local authorities, to improve implementation conditions for those working in the sector and better public and therefore consumer understanding of this leading common policy;










36.


also specifies that the necessary simplification being sought must enable the EU to react more rapidly to crises in agricultural markets and to unforeseeable climate and health-related events; the current crisis in the dairy sector requires swift action and the introduction of simplified and more flexible management instruments.










37.


feels it is vital to communicate more effectively with respect to the current CAP, so that all the stakeholders involved (the public, consumers, farmers, and local and regional authorities) are able to appropriate it for themselves;










38.


would like EUROPE to decide to develop the agricultural policy into an ambitious common agricultural and food policy that could be known as the CAFP. This would strengthen the policy both within the European Union and at global level. The success of such a policy would promote the return to the stability and balance the world needs;










39.


expects the Member States, the European Parliament and the Council to assume their responsibilities from 2013 to define this policy, together with financial perspectives compatible with the objectives and conditions for its application at all levels.





Brussels, 7 October 2009


The President ofthe Committee of the Regions

Luc VAN DEN BRANDE