EU talks on farming subsidy reforms break up without deal
Published: 04:05 PM,May 28,2021 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 28,2021
EU FARMS
BRUSSELS: European Union negotiators this week failed to agree reforms to the bloc's huge farming subsidy programme, with talks due to resume in June on rules to protect small farms and curb agriculture's environmental impact.
The EU is nearing the end of a three-year struggle to reform its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP will spend the roughly one-third of the EU's 2021-2027 budget - €387 billion ($471.91 billion) - on payments to farmers and support for rural development, with the new rules kicking in from 2023.
The revamp aims to curb the environmental impact of agriculture, which is the most frequently reported source of pressure on Europe's habitats and species and is responsible for 10 per cent of EU greenhouse gas emissions.
'Ultimately, although progress was made in several areas, a number of key issues remained outstanding. It was therefore decided to postpone talks until the next meeting of agriculture and fisheries ministers in June,' EU member states said in a statement on Friday.
After all-night talks on Thursday, EU member states failed to find a compromise to put forward in negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission. Formal negotiations would resume in June, an EU official said.
EU agriculture commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said negotiators came 'very close' to a deal.
'We will not sacrifice the rights of farmers, consumers or the environment,' said Eric Andrieu, one of the EU lawmakers leading the talks.
Unresolved issues include how much cash to spend on 'eco-schemes' to protect the environment, such as organic farming or re-wetting peatlands to absorb CO2.
Campaigners have said the proposals would fail to align agriculture with EU climate goals, and allow the majority of funds to be spent on polluting forms of industrial farming.
Other rules under discussion would divert cash from big landowners and businesses to smaller farms, set standards for working conditions, and form a crisis fund in case agricultural markets are disrupted by an emergency such as a pandemic.
Since Tuesday, representatives for the parliament, European Commission and 27 EU countries have negotiated until late into the night to decide on rules for how the Common Agriculture Policy's funds can be used.
Ultimately, however, 'a number of key issues remained outstanding,' according to a council press release.
The three sides are at loggerheads over a host of issues.
For example, the countries want to maintain flexibility in how spending criteria are applied, while the parliament insists that they should be regulated more strictly.
The next Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) budget, which covers the years 2023 to 2027, is also controversial because it has huge ramifications for the environment.
Portugal has been pushing for an agreement to come through before its presidency ends at the end of June.
One of the negotiators for the parliament, Norbert Lins, said he was 'very disappointed that the Portuguese Council Presidency has brokenoff negotiations today.' - Reuters/dpa
The EU is nearing the end of a three-year struggle to reform its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP will spend the roughly one-third of the EU's 2021-2027 budget - €387 billion ($471.91 billion) - on payments to farmers and support for rural development, with the new rules kicking in from 2023.
The revamp aims to curb the environmental impact of agriculture, which is the most frequently reported source of pressure on Europe's habitats and species and is responsible for 10 per cent of EU greenhouse gas emissions.
'Ultimately, although progress was made in several areas, a number of key issues remained outstanding. It was therefore decided to postpone talks until the next meeting of agriculture and fisheries ministers in June,' EU member states said in a statement on Friday.
After all-night talks on Thursday, EU member states failed to find a compromise to put forward in negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission. Formal negotiations would resume in June, an EU official said.
EU agriculture commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said negotiators came 'very close' to a deal.
'We will not sacrifice the rights of farmers, consumers or the environment,' said Eric Andrieu, one of the EU lawmakers leading the talks.
Unresolved issues include how much cash to spend on 'eco-schemes' to protect the environment, such as organic farming or re-wetting peatlands to absorb CO2.
Campaigners have said the proposals would fail to align agriculture with EU climate goals, and allow the majority of funds to be spent on polluting forms of industrial farming.
Other rules under discussion would divert cash from big landowners and businesses to smaller farms, set standards for working conditions, and form a crisis fund in case agricultural markets are disrupted by an emergency such as a pandemic.
Since Tuesday, representatives for the parliament, European Commission and 27 EU countries have negotiated until late into the night to decide on rules for how the Common Agriculture Policy's funds can be used.
Ultimately, however, 'a number of key issues remained outstanding,' according to a council press release.
The three sides are at loggerheads over a host of issues.
For example, the countries want to maintain flexibility in how spending criteria are applied, while the parliament insists that they should be regulated more strictly.
The next Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) budget, which covers the years 2023 to 2027, is also controversial because it has huge ramifications for the environment.
Portugal has been pushing for an agreement to come through before its presidency ends at the end of June.
One of the negotiators for the parliament, Norbert Lins, said he was 'very disappointed that the Portuguese Council Presidency has brokenoff negotiations today.' - Reuters/dpa