CAP reform
Corteva boss: ‘Mother Nature’ changes the game quickly and demands new agricultural tools
“Mother Nature” is changing quickly and this requires the adoption of technology-driven solutions that will help both growers and consumers, Jim Collins, the chief operating officer of Corteva Agriscience, the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, told EURACTIV.
Heavy workload delays EU report on environmental impact of drugs
The European Commission’s much-awaited communication on the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals is at an “advanced stage” but might not be adopted in the near future because of other legislative initiatives on the agenda, an EU official has told EURACTIV.com.
European Commission under fire after new CAP proposals unveiled
The European Commission unveiled on Friday (1 June) its plans for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy, triggering a strong reaction from EU farmers and the environmental community for cutting the budget, giving member states too much leeway and fudging environmental and climate issues.
Insufficient consideration for food issue in CAP
Olivier De Schutter, a co-chair of the international expert panel IPES-Food, calls on the European Commission to lay the foundations for a Common Food Policy. EURACTIV.fr reports.
The moment for a future-proof EU agriculture and food policy is now
The next reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should bring agricultural and food policies out of their respective silos and align actions across different areas in support of building sustainable food systems, write Sirpa Pietikainen and Bart Staes.
Calls growing to stop nationalisation of CAP
There is growing criticism in France of increased subsidiarity of the future Common Agricultural Policy for the 2021-2027 period, which the Commission seems to favour, EURACTIV.fr reports.
Czech farmers clash over proposed CAP subsidies capping
The European Commission’s proposal to cap agricultural payments and provide more support for small farms has divided farmers in the Czech Republic. But there are other issues they should focus on, such as the ageing rural population and the challenges of modern technologies. EURACTIV.cz reports.
Greenpeace: Industry-linked MEPs in the agri committee have a ‘safe’ majority
A survey conducted by Greenpeace has found that 25 out of 46 MEPs of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee have “strong” links to the farming industry.
Paris seeks alliance to protect EU’s farming budget
The French agriculture minister wants to set up an alliance with other agricultural countries to avoid a 5% cut in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding envisaged in the EU's 2021-2027 budget proposal. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Commission throws the ball to EU states on CAP rural development, prioritises direct payments
The European Commission has proposed to cut the budget of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy by approximately 5%, but has prioritised the direct payments pillar in order to ensure farmers’ income and leave smallholders unaffected.
Cuts in the CAP: ‘unacceptable’ for France
The EU’s budget proposal for 2020-2027 is mostly in line with France’s ambition for Europe: it maintains means and increases its priorities. However, the proposed slight cut in the CAP did not go down well. EURACTIV.fr reports.
EU budget proposal 2021-2027 – as it happened
The European Commission unveils its proposal for the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027 today (2 May), setting the stage for a bruising and long negotiation with member states and parliament.
Financing EU agriculture after 2020: What future for the CAP?
The recent European Commission’s Communication on The Future of Food and Farming, published at the end of 2017, announced a shift away from a unified set of requirements decided in Brussels for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy.
Copernicus chief defends role of satellites in CAP’s ‘control’ system
The EU will launch a new satellite this week as part of the ‘Copernicus’ initiative. The earth observation programme has proved to be useful in dealing with natural disasters and its importance will grow to manage EU funds including the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020, director Philippe Brunet said.
Greenpeace: Risk management tools cannot solve ‘unsustainable’ CAP system
Public policies should not embrace risk management tools that cement the current ecological and economically unsustainable agri-food system, Greenpeace's food and agriculture director Marco Contiero told EURACTIV.com.
Spanish agriculture is campaigning for the development of agricultural insurance
Spanish farmers and stockbreeders want the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to redirect its financial resources to a system of agricultural insurance. EURACTIV's partner EFEAgro reports.
Hogan: 3 reasons EU farmers should take the risk and invest in agriculture
European farmers should invest in post-2020 agriculture as it will be less bureaucratic, more focused on “technology breakthroughs” and will improve their standard of living, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV.com.
Stakeholders call for strong enforcement to combat unfair trade practices
EU lawmakers and farmers have welcomed the European Commission’s rules on unfair trade practices but have called for “strong” enforcement to protect the weakest parts of the food supply chain.
Economic viability in the next CAP
EU farmers are calling for a simplified Common Agricultural Policy that will provide security for them to invest in their business and make a profit. Can the next CAP ensure a healthy and profitable business environment in the farming sector?
French farmers want to strengthen risk management in the future CAP
Risk management tools to stabilise farmers’ incomes are a priority for French farmers’ representatives. However, their growth could be hampered by the decline of the CAP budget. EURACTIV.fr reports.
EU sugar companies struggle to survive as prices plunge post-quotas
European Union sugar companies have emerged from the cocoon of production quotas and are now fighting to survive in a fiercely competitive world market with prices and profits plunging.
Commission official: ‘We want to improve CAP’s agro-environment architecture’
The European Commission is "aiming high" in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aware of the need to improve its architecture and links with climate and environment policies. But the level of funding that will be available from 2020 is still unknown.
Minister: Romania has benefitted from the CAP, opposes budget cuts
Romania has made significant progress in the past decade thanks to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds and it opposes potential cuts in the post-2020 farming budget, Agriculture Minister Petre Daea told EURACTIV Romania in an interview.
Hogan: Post-2020 CAP will ensure level playing field across EU
EU farmers should not fear a “re-nationalisation” scenario for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy as the Commission is set to give member states more powers to implement their own CAP national plans, Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV. But the...