The Finnish presidency of the European Council has proposed radically different climate-based payments to farmers in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

As part of proposals to be discussed in Brussels by agriculture ministers from across Europe on Monday, Finnish agriculture minister Jari Leppa will put two questions forward for discussion:

1 - Would member states agree with the proposal on the single common dedicated share of funding for environmental and climate purposes, which would cover both Pillars?

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2 - Would the package of measures outlined above constitute a sufficiently robust but flexible framework to achieve an increase in the environment- and climate-related ambition of the future CAP?

Currently, proposals from the European Commission state that 30% of Pillar II funding will be ring-fenced for meeting climate-based objectives in the next CAP.

If the proposal was adopted, then countries would have the autonomy to decide which Pillar of funding would fund climate-based payments. This could mean that one or two Pillars could be used to meet the overall percentage that was decided upon.

It had been thought that CAP proposals were all but set in stone, but the Finnish proposals could herald a tumultuous conclusion to Phil Hogan’s time as European Commissioner for Agriculture.

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