The European Parliament has made its position unmistakably clear today in firmly opposing the European Commission’s proposal for a single fund instrument that could jeopardize the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Instead, the EP calls for a strengthened agricultural budget.
In today’s plenary vote, the Parliament adopted its own initiative report on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), led by co-rapporteurs Carla Tavares (S&D, Portugal) and Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, Romania). This report comes in anticipation of the Commission’s formal proposal, expected by July.
Responding to the Commission’s floated idea of a single fund—an idea that has provoked unanimous concern across the agricultural sector—the European Parliament delivered a strong and unequivocal message: this proposal is a bad idea.
Copa and Cogeca also warmly welcome the Parliament paying attention to agricultural concerns. Of particular note are the two key amendments adopted, which emphasise the preservation of the CAP’s separate budget line in the next MFF and in fact go further by calling for it to be increased. This includes indexing the agricultural budget to inflation and identifying additional dedicated funding sources to support the many transitions which the EU is demanding of the agricultural sector. That represents a common-sense approach that would bring consistency between the Commission’s ambitions and its funds.
While this report is non-binding for the European Commission and Member States, it sends a clear political signal, one that must be acknowledged and addressed. This vote strengthens and legitimises the concerns of Copa and Cogeca, which it intends to raise directly in a requested meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. For now, a response is still being waited on.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
