The European Commission has moved to downplay fears that it is considering a withdrawal of CAP reform proposals in favour of redrafting new ones.

Executive vice-president of the Commission Frans Timmermans created unease among MEP negotiators and EU farm ministers when he hinted that such a move remained a possibility in an interview with Dutch media.

Timmermans oversees the European green deal. He suggested that the Commission may consider a withdrawal of the final CAP if it is not in line with the Commission’s overarching climate and environmental policies.

A number of environmental lobby groups and MEPs, including Irish MEPs, are pushing for such a withdrawal.

At odds

However, Timmermans' comments are at odds with those of Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. She said the Commission was not considering a withdrawal in response to a letter to Green MEPs.

At a meeting of EU farm ministers via video conference on Monday, there were concerns expressed that a withdrawal is being considered at such a late stage in the negotiations.

German farm minister Julia Klockner said ministers were "deeply upset" by the comments.

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Styla Kyriakides, who is leading the Farm to Fork strategy, reassured ministers that the Commission was not considering a withdrawal.

MEPs

Timmermans comments prompted agri-MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) to write to president von der Leyen.

“We note with great concern that contradictory positions are being taken by the European Commission regarding this highly important process,” the MEPs wrote.

“In your letter to the European Greens of 30 October 2020, you clearly state that the Commission is not considering a withdrawal of the CAP reform proposal.

“He [Timmermans] has now publicly threatened to withdraw the Commission’s proposal if he personally considers the level of ambition to be insufficient on these elements. Those remarks are clearly not in line with your recent letter.”

CAP negotiations are now in the final stage of trilogues - EU jargon for compromise negotiations between the Council and Parliament, overseen by the Commission.

They hope to strike a deal by June 2021, with the introduction of the new CAP delayed until 2022 at the earliest.

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