The twenty-page document marks the first French position on the budgetary aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the EU's next long-term budgetary period (2014-2020).
Figures have so far been a taboo for France as the EU embarks in negotiations over the future CAP, which currently still widely benefits French farmers.
The French Ecology Ministry briefly published the document on the Sustainable Development Commission's website. The text, discretely distributed on the ministry's web page, was no longer available after 4 November.
The Ecology Ministry's taking of a position on these subjects constitutes a radical shift.
The French Agriculture Ministry, which is in charge of farm policy, was angered by the statement, saying that the text "doesn't count".
Traditionally, the Agriculture Ministry decides upon the French position on the CAP. France has already adopted an official position on the CAP's future along with Germany, on 14 September.
Three envelopes
By publishing the document, Jean-Louis Borloo has really set the cat amongst the pigeons.
The text proposes splitting CAP funds into three parts. It bases itself on the principle that France will maintain a financial envelope of around €10 billion each year between 2014 and 2020, as it currently does.
The Ecology Ministry proposes first earmarking €3 billion for direct support to farmers. This "stable source of revenue" would be justified on "social and environmental" grounds, the document underlines. In exchange for the subsidies, farmers will have to respect environmental norms known as "good agricultural and environmental conditions". This €3 billion would be topped up by national sources of financing.
It also suggests spending €4 billion on public environmental goods such as organic or high-value agriculture and grazing. "This wouldn't mean subsidising a loss but paying for the delivery of real environmental services," the report explains.
"Keeping a strong CAP is justified as long as it contributes to sustainable agriculture on a European level," the document states, calling for agricultural production to be "more thrifty in terms of natural resources used".
Change of method
A third envelope would see €2 billion supporting the "agro-ecological transition" of farmers towards sustainable agriculture. This transformation would be established by a contract between the state and farmers who want to modernise their practice, whereby the report mentions conversions to organic or "zero-carbon" farming.
The ministry also suggests subsidising "local cooperation and collective actions on specific territorial issues related to the environment". This sum would be co-financed by "different [national, regional and private] actors," with EU funding providing the largest share.
Finally, the remaining billion would be set aside for food production, as well as for the creation of safety nets to protect against price volatility in the agricultural sector.
