Commission's plan for next CAP risks more red tape - Minister Dooley

Minister of State Timmy Dooley has warned that the European Commission’s plans for a new cross-compliance framework pitched by Brussels as a move that would allow “more balanced and flexible” rules for EU farmers could actually do the opposite by adding more complexity to schemes.

Speaking at a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, Minister Dooley told his EU colleagues that the next CAP must be simpler for farmers, as well as for each member state to administer on the ground.

“I want to emphasise that this reform delivers on simplification. We must make real and practical improvements to the current system, not just administrative theory,” he said.

His calls were for a “system that is workable, proportionate and predictable” for farmers, stating that any changes from the current CAP must be an “evolution of the current requirements” and not a “disruptive overhaul”.

Singled out

One of the areas singled out by the minister that requires a simplifying approach was that of the proposed move away from conditionality rules (which replaced cross compliance) to what the Commission has termed “farm stewardship”.

The proposed changeover “risks adding new layers of complexity”, where it should be aiming for rules that are “as simple as possible” to leave wiggle room for each EU member state to adjust as they see fit, Minister Dooley commented.

The minister also spoke on the CAP budget, saying that while the ringfencing of some funds towards direct payments in the Commission’s EU budget plans was to be welcomed, there is a drop between what has been proposed and the ringfenced funding levels in the current CAP.

“I see this as a good starting point, but, to be clear, I consider that the CAP must be fully funded. The loss of ring-fenced funding for eco schemes is particularly disappointing,” he said.

“Any proposed changes to the CAP’s structure must preserve the CAP’s ability to act as to secure farm incomes, food security and rural resilience and must do so with predictability and fairness for our farmers.”