With its vote on MEP Ulrike Müller’s report on the Horizontal Regulation, the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee concluded its round of discussions on the future of the CAP in a pragmatic and consistent manner. Copa and Cogeca welcome the overall outcome of the vote, as the adopted compromise amendments clarify some of the issues on the governance of the CAP.
Copa and Cogeca welcome the vote on MEP Ulrike Müller’s report on the Horizontal Regulation. The amendments adopted should help to reduce the administrative burden for farmers and agri- cooperatives and should not endanger the communality of the European agricultural policy.
Copa and Cogeca consider the fact that the most important features of the results-based system have been retained in the Parliament report to be a positive signal. The EU farming community has constantly advocated for a model that delivers simplification for beneficiaries and does not jeopardise the communality of the policy. Copa and Cogeca hope that the new delivery model and the results-based system will live up to these expectations.
Another important element for Copa and Cogeca is the development of a well-functioning and properly financed crisis reserve, which includes clear and timely activation mechanisms. Although the compromise amendments voted on in the AGRI Committee meet some of farmers’ demands, the organization believes that they could have gone even further.
Pekka Pesonen, Copa and Cogeca Secretary General, reacted to the vote, saying: “We hope that the new results-based system will deliver on its promise to provide more simplification and reduce the administrative burden. The European AGRI Committee’s work is now complete and it is down to the future Parliament to conclude the CAP debate. The next five years will be truly decisive for the future of our sector. We can only hope that the newly elected MEPs will support and push forward the current proposal, providing clarity and stability to the EU farming community."
For more information:
Copa and Cogeca
www.copa-cogeca.eu