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Imposing a “one-size-fits-all” approach to greening in the last CAP reform was too prescriptive, according to European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.
He said that basing the system on compliance with pre-determined “good” practices had worked fine in theory but less well in practice.
Speaking at a conference in Brussels, Hogan said: “Now, five years on, we can say that while some elements of greening had a positive impact, other elements did not deliver the results that our citizens want and our climate so desperately needs.”
Logic
He explained the logic behind introducing greening was simple as it tied farm payments to good environmental practices.
These practices were increasingly demanded by EU citizens who wanted to support climate action in the agri-food sector.
With ambitious targets for agriculture to meet by 2030, specifically a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases on 1990 levels, sourcing 32% of energy from renewable sources and a 32.5% increase in energy efficiencies, Commissioner Hogan said CAP must deliver results “more effectively and clearly”.
Redesign
In order to achieve these results, he said the next CAP delivery model redesigned not only the tools to achieve better climate outcomes, but also the designation of responsibility.
Under the new model there will be increased subsidiarity. This will give national administrations more control over how their direct payments are made.
Hogan said: “Brussels will no longer prescribe the width of a hedge, or dictate the distance from a water body a farmer must respect to fertilise his fields.
Instead, ambitious environmental and climate-related objectives will be set at EU level, including a requirement for nutrient management planning and incentives for precision farming.”
Watchdog
Member states will now have to design a CAP strategic plan that delivers on these EU-set objectives. The plan will then be sent for approval to the European Commission, shifting its role to one of a watchdog.
Hogan explained how the present greening structure would be changed: “The current green architecture of the CAP – which relies on cross-compliance, green direct payments and voluntary agri-environmental and climate measures – would be replaced by a streamlined system of conditionality.”
He said the granting of income support to farmers would now be conditional to farmers undertaking environmental and climate practices.
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