The reform of the next CAP ?now has an uncertain timeline as EU institutions grapple with new working restrictions.

Efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 have led to the cancellation of a number of key CAP-related meetings, including the council of agricultural ministers on 23 March and the European Parliament’s agriculture committee on 12, 18 and 19 March.

Wrangling over the EU’s seven-year budget had already pushed back the introduction of the next CAP by at least a year, but the added restrictions make a two-year delay ?even more likely.

In the meantime, transitional legislation is required to ensure that farmers receive their payments in 2021.

We are all aware of how important this is for farmers

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness said the priority had been to pass legislation as soon as possible to provide certainty for farmers. The agriculture committee had intended to vote on them in April, with the full parliament voting in June. However McGuinness said no one was now certain if that schedule could be met.

“We are all aware of how important this is for farmers. Whatever needs to be done will be done to try to hit targets,” she said.

On the CAP reform itself, the real meat of negotiations happens at trilogue stage, when the European Commission, Parliament, and Council agree a compromise package. However, the Parliament and the Council ?have yet to finalise their positions.

It had been hoped the Parliament could agree its position before summer recess. Independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan said that was unrealistic before the outbreak of coronavirus and any vote would now probably be put back to September.

It is also increasingly likely that it will fall to Germany to finalise the European Council’s position on CAP reform and its budget when it assumes the presidency in July.

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