A first step for the CAP reform at the EU Parliament
Statement of Commissioner Dacian Cioloş after the vote on the future reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in the European Parliament Agriculture & Rural Development Committee
I welcome the vote of the reports on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) by the members of the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament. This is the first time that a reform of the CAP is subject to co-decision, and this week's vote is an important step in the process. MEPs, the rapporteurs and shadow-rapporteurs have worked very hard to finalise the vote this week. We must continue this hard work until the end of the decision-making process, without unnecessary delay, in order to give European farmers a clearer perspective for the future.
I am pleased to see that this vote confirms the concepts tabled by the European Commission. It demonstrates that the proposals submitted on 12 October 2011 are well-balanced on many issues, including a fairer distribution of direct support, capping, active farmers, greening 30% of the first pillar, more support for young farmers, and a more effective Rural Development policy, more targeted towards innovation and strengthening farmers' organization.
Our policy objectives and citizens' expectations expressed during the 2010 public debate on the future of the CAP, have to be converted into a consistent toolbox of simple and efficient measures, with no double funding and no "greenwashing". On this basis, I will now analyse in detail the elements of improvement proposed by the EP Agriculture Committee.
The final stage of the negotiation process will start after the adoption of the 2014-2020 EU Budget. Afterwards, the European Parliament and the Council will be in a position to adopt their respective negotiating mandates, paving the way for trilogues between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.
