News

The European Commission has launched the calls for proposals for programmes to promote European agricultural products throughout the world and within the EU. Proposals should be submitted by 16 April 2019 via the dedicated portal.

Since 01/01/2019, Romania has assumed the presidency of the Council of the EU, with the presidency of the RO holding until 30/06/2019, when it will be replaced by Finland. The negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) after 2020, the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020 (CAP), and the UK's leaving the European Union will continue in the framework of the EU's presidency. Romania should also be interested in addressing dual food quality in the EU Single Market, and Romania's interests will also include combating the further spread of African swine fever. Romanian Foreign Minister George Ciamba stated that to the MFF and the CAP, the RO plans to reach at least partial political agreement with the European Parliament during its presidency in those areas where a general agreement has already been reached within the Council for the AT Presidency. Romania is one of the countries affected by African swine fever (ASF) disease, so the priorities of the RO Presidency include efforts to unify the approaches to fight the spread of this disease in the EU. In June 2019, experts in the veterinary field will meet in Bucharest.

German MEP and currently coordinator for agriculture factions of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) of the European Parliament (EPP) Albert Dess submitted a proposal to reject the entire legislative proposal for the CAP within the deadline for tabling amendments (until 03/12/2018) , which the European Commission submitted in June 2018. The reason for rejecting the entire legislative proposal is the disagreement with the proposed budget cut for the CAP. This is an amendment with order number 449 (available here). According to preliminary information, Another 15 MEPs consider to support Dess's proposal to reject a legislative proposal of The Commission. In order for the proposal to be approved within the EP Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, a total of 23 members of the Committee must be heard for support.

Amendments are now fully translated into English, German and Spanish (available here), translation into the remaining EU languages should be done before 18/01/2019. The EP Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development should vote on the compromise text of the report on 06/03/2019 (to be confirmed), the vote in plenary should be held in April. Elections to the European Parliament will take place from 23-26/05/2019.

Dutch Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Prime Minister Carola Schouten supported the development of sustainable agriculture and so-called circular agriculture - i.e. agriculture based on waste reduction and re-use of by-products from agriculture and food processing - in the EU. Legislative proposals for the CAP should, according to Schouten, be more ambitious in terms of environmental and climate protection, with an emphasis on funding for research and innovation. Schouten supports the maintenance of direct payments, at least 40% of the total CAP budget, but it must be designed to support the environment. Schouten also said that due to the existing differences in wage costs, land prices or production costs, the Netherlands does not agree with further external convergence of direct payments.

Non-governmental agricultural organizations from a total of seven EU Member States (BG, RO, CZ, SK, HU, PL, LT the so-called Three Seas Initiative) adopted a declaration on the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020. The organizations have rejected the proposed budget cut; have supported its preservation at least on the same level as the current programming period. The organizations have supported full external convergence in relation to the EU average of the level of direct payments by 2027; and rejected the compulsory sprawl of direct payments that, according to these organizations, would threaten the competitiveness of the sector. The organization further supported the maintenance of the current packet for coupled support (VCS payments); introducing the percentage limit for co-financing under II. CAP pillar; and setting the definition of a real farmer at Member State level. More information is available here.