Press Release

19/11/2008

Common Agricultural Policy: European Parliament wants cautious reform. Lutz Goepel MEP

The plenary of the European Parliament has today adopted the reports on the 'Health Check' of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a clear majority. Lutz Goepel MEP, Rapporteur of the EPP-ED Group, welcomed the outcome of the vote which means a compromise between the financial cuts proposed by the Commission and the necessary reforms in the agricultural sector and should now serve as a basis for an agreement in the Council. In this way, the actual goal of the Health Check would be maintained, namely the further development of EU agricultural policy in terms of attaining a competitive, sustainable, social, multifunctional and comprehensive agriculture. "Additionally, the original demand of the Commission for a blanket degression, i.e. the abolition of the bulk of direct payments in the framework of the current planning period until 2013, would no longer be an issue", said the German MEP.

Parliament instead advocated the reduction of direct payments by a maximum of five per cent in 2012, as proposed by the agricultural committee. This cutback shall be carried out in accordance with the size of the businesses. Free resources could then be re-dedicated rural development where they have been generated. "Thereby the equal treatment of all farms irrespective of their size and legal form would be ensured. Also a re-nationalisation of the CAP, as demanded by the EU Budget Commissioner and contrary to the Treaties, would then be off the table", said Goepel, who is also the Group's Agriculture Spokesman.

The system change sought by the Commission towards higher flexibility of Member States, including the introduction of further decoupling and the abolition of historical reference values, is correct in principle. "However this must not endanger planning reliability for our farmers and safety of food supply", he warned. For this reason, Parliament's proposal aims for a more careful approach with regard to breeding premiums as well as smaller market regulations in the plant sector. Furthermore, new measures are envisaged for basic protection against plant and epidemic crises, which will increase due to climate change and global interdependence of agricultural markets. In conclusion, Goepel assessed the introduction of an EU milk fund as generally positive: "However, it would have been better if the milk sector had been dealt with at a later stage due to its complexity".

(Translation from the original German)

For further information:
Lutz Goepel MEP, Tel: +33-3-88-177760
Knut Goelz, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-479-972144

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 288 Members from all 27 Member States.