Ministers held an exchange of views on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package thus launching within the Council the debate on the future of the CAP for the months ahead:
Direct payments: several Member States raised concerns or stated their opposition to the proposed redistribution of payments between Member States.
- On the proposed greening of the first pillar while they generally could agree with the introduction of "greening" measures in the first pillar, several questioned the compulsory character of the proposed measures or challenged the proposed 30% proportion of direct payment envelopes devoted to this "greening".
- In addition some delegations expressed their opposition to progressive reduction and capping of direct payments amounts.
- The proposed definition of "active farmer" also raised many questions.
- Actions proposed in favour of small farms and young farmers were generally well received.
Moreover, a vast majority of delegations raised concerns that the direct payments and rural development proposals seemed to run counter to the important objective of simplification of the CAP.
Market management mechanisms: most of the Member States acknowledged the measures proposed by the Commission. They noted in particular the importance of extending the existing possibilities to allow the Commission to take emergency measures.
- Some Member States regretted the Commission's intention to stick to the abolition of the sugar quota system for 2015, while others welcomed the confirmation that the sugar sector would be liberalised after 2015.
- Several delegations welcomed the proposals to strengthen the role of the farmer in the food supply chain with mandatory recognition of producers and interbranch organisations, while others were concerned that this would imply the risk of competition distortion.
The Council will hold two more policy debates on the CAP reform proposals before the end of the year: one on direct payments in November and another on rural development in December 2011.
It should be noted that the Commission prepared the CAP reform package following the interinstitutional debate initiated by its communication The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future and on the basis of impact assessments for the various policies. The new rules should enter into force on 1 January 2014.
In March 2011, the Council took note of the Presidency conclusions on the Commission communication supported by a very large number of Member States. These conclusions on the communication followed an initial exchange of views and three policy debates focusing on the three main objectives of the future CAP identified in the Commission communication, namely: (i) viable food production; (ii) sustainable management of natural resources and climate action, and (iii) balanced territorial development.