Common agricultural policy (CAP) 2021–2027

2018/0218(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 463 votes to 133, with 92 abstentions,  amendments on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (EU) No 251/2014 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products, (EU) No 228/2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union and (EU) No 229/2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands.

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

The main amendments adopted in plenary concern the following points:

A more sustainable and ‘greener’ CAP

Members stressed that the CAP should be more result-driven to:

- boost, in line with the sustainable development programme up to 2030 and the Paris climate agreement, the modernisation and sustainable development, including economic, social, environmental and climatic sustainability of agricultural, forestry and rural areas (with increased focus on agri-forestry);

- reduce food waste, promote education on healthy eating habits, produce healthy food.

In concrete terms, the common organisation of the markets (CMO) in agricultural products should contribute to the following objectives:

- contribute to the stabilisation of agricultural markets and increase their transparency;

- promote the proper functioning of the agri-food supply chain and ensure a fair income for agricultural producers;

- improve the position of producers in the value chain and promote the concentration of agricultural supply;

- contribute to improving the economic conditions for the production and marketing of agricultural products and enhance the quality of European agricultural production.

All interventions of the future CAP should respect the principles of sustainable development, gender equality and fundamental rights.

Trade

To maintain fair competition in international trade, Members insisted that the EU should enforce production standards in line with those established for its own producers, particularly in environmental and health matters, subject to reciprocity.

Extending supply management to all sectors

In view of the importance of protected designations of origin (PDOs) and protected geographical indications (PGIs) in EU agricultural production, and given the successful introduction of supply management rules for quality cheeses and dry cured hams with quality marks to guarantee the added value of these products, it is proposed to extend the benefits of these rules to all agricultural products with quality marks.

EU Observatory of agricultural markets

In order to improve transparency within the agri-food supply chain, to illuminate the choices of economic operators and all public authorities and to facilitate the identification and recording of market developments, the Commission should establish an EU observatory of agricultural markets.

It should cover, as a minimum, the following agricultural sectors: (i) cereals; (ii) sugar, sugar beet and sugar cane; (iii) olive oil; (iv) fruit and vegetables; (v) wine; (vi) milk and milk products; (vii) beef and veal; (viii) pigmeat; (ix) sheepmeat and goatmeat; (x) poultrymeat.

The Observatory should collect statistical data on production, supply, prices, profits, imports and exports, and issue early market disturbance warnings.

Early warning mechanism for market disturbances and alert thresholds

The Observatory should set up an early warning mechanism and alert thresholds and should notify the European Parliament and the Council where the relevant alert threshold is exceeded, of threats of market disturbances caused, in particular, by significant price rises or falls on internal or external markets or by other events or circumstances having similar effects.

Members also want to widen the market safety net by allowing public intervention (a market management tool used when prices drop beyond a certain level) for new products, such as white sugar, sheep meat, pig meat and chicken.

Vine planting

The scheme of authorisations for vine plantings established in this Chapter should apply from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2050, with a review to be undertaken by the Commission every ten years and for the first time on 1 January 2023 to evaluate the operation of the scheme and, if appropriate, make proposals to improve its effectiveness.

In order to achieve better soil management in viticulture, the Regulation would allow the duration of replanting authorisations to be extended from three to six years.

Market disturbance monitoring and management plans

With a view to achieving the CAP objectives, in particular the specific objective of market stabilisation, the Commission should establish plans for the monitoring and the management of market disturbances defining its intervention strategy for each agricultural product referred to this Regulation.