The European Commission’s slight change of tack on controversial plans to overhaul the next long-term EU budget has done little to quell the anger of EU farming organisations with Brussels’ proposal to axe CAP’s standalone budget and reduce the funds ringfenced for farmers.
Summer saw the Commission unveil plans for the 2028-2034 EU budget which would see the dedicated funds for farm schemes cut by upwards of 20%.
The move sparked outrage from MEPs and farming organisations leaving agreement on the radical changes looking unsure with a little over two years left to current budget, which coincides with duration of current CAP schemes.
On Monday, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen outlined some amendments to the European Parliament’s president Roberta Metsola in an attempt to settle MEPs’ concerns with the budget plans.
These included a 10% “rural target” on the funds unallocated within the single fund CAP is to be subsumed into that would have to go on rural spending.
However, the umbrella group for EU farmer and co-op organisations Copa Cogeca rubbished the potential of this rural target leaving the CAP any better off.
It said that this target would not be sufficient in covering the hole left by the cutting of funds equivalent to the current CAP’s Pillar II, while the ambiguous wording suggests that any funds re-allocated to rural areas through would be focused to “mainly non-agriculture related” issues.
The group hit out at what it termed “smoke and mirrors” from a Commission that has “crossed far too many red lines” in plans for the EU budget.
“There is no change regarding the CAP share of the EU Budget which remains at less than 15% of total EU expenditure with still a 20% lower budget than the current one (without considering inflation).
“In our view, these minor technical tweaks do nothing to address the real needs of European farmers and agri cooperatives. When it comes to agriculture, the changes are practically non-existent.”
MEP hails step in ‘right direction’
Midlands northwest MEP Nina Carbery, who sits on the Parliament’s budget committee welcomed an “important step in the right direction” and the sign that von der Leyen is willing to make changes.
“The Commission’s concessions mark a shift,” Carbery stated.
“However, this is only the beginning of the process, we will need time to analyse the new proposals and let’s be clear - not all of Parliament’s concerns have been fully addressed.
“We are in a better place than we were last week, but we have a long road to go yet before we will be satisfied with the overall proposal.”
Read more
20% CAP cut 'not a done deal' as exact extent of proposed chop still unclear
€8.16bn proposed as Ireland's slice of EU-funded CAP budget
The European Commission’s slight change of tack on controversial plans to overhaul the next long-term EU budget has done little to quell the anger of EU farming organisations with Brussels’ proposal to axe CAP’s standalone budget and reduce the funds ringfenced for farmers.
Summer saw the Commission unveil plans for the 2028-2034 EU budget which would see the dedicated funds for farm schemes cut by upwards of 20%.
The move sparked outrage from MEPs and farming organisations leaving agreement on the radical changes looking unsure with a little over two years left to current budget, which coincides with duration of current CAP schemes.
On Monday, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen outlined some amendments to the European Parliament’s president Roberta Metsola in an attempt to settle MEPs’ concerns with the budget plans.
These included a 10% “rural target” on the funds unallocated within the single fund CAP is to be subsumed into that would have to go on rural spending.
However, the umbrella group for EU farmer and co-op organisations Copa Cogeca rubbished the potential of this rural target leaving the CAP any better off.
It said that this target would not be sufficient in covering the hole left by the cutting of funds equivalent to the current CAP’s Pillar II, while the ambiguous wording suggests that any funds re-allocated to rural areas through would be focused to “mainly non-agriculture related” issues.
The group hit out at what it termed “smoke and mirrors” from a Commission that has “crossed far too many red lines” in plans for the EU budget.
“There is no change regarding the CAP share of the EU Budget which remains at less than 15% of total EU expenditure with still a 20% lower budget than the current one (without considering inflation).
“In our view, these minor technical tweaks do nothing to address the real needs of European farmers and agri cooperatives. When it comes to agriculture, the changes are practically non-existent.”
MEP hails step in ‘right direction’
Midlands northwest MEP Nina Carbery, who sits on the Parliament’s budget committee welcomed an “important step in the right direction” and the sign that von der Leyen is willing to make changes.
“The Commission’s concessions mark a shift,” Carbery stated.
“However, this is only the beginning of the process, we will need time to analyse the new proposals and let’s be clear - not all of Parliament’s concerns have been fully addressed.
“We are in a better place than we were last week, but we have a long road to go yet before we will be satisfied with the overall proposal.”
Read more
20% CAP cut 'not a done deal' as exact extent of proposed chop still unclear
€8.16bn proposed as Ireland's slice of EU-funded CAP budget
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