Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias affirms that the new CAP hinders the single market
Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España sees in the new national strategic plans for the application of the CAP a clear risk of renationalisation and an obstacle to the proper functioning of the single market. Nor does it see as good news that the Commission has once again avoided making market management proposals to alleviate price volatility and serious crises. However, there are good instruments, such as the possibility of extending the system of operational programs similar to those of fruits and vegetables to other sectors. However, the uncertainty and probable budget reduction will greatly limit its implementation.
The European Commission has officially presented the proposals for reforming the CAP 2021-2027. They propose leaving the implementation, management and control of the CAP in the hands of the Member States based on common objectives and criteria that will be evaluated according to the results by the European Commission itself. Member States should develop their own strategic plans where interventions and operations are integrated to achieve the objectives of the CAP adapted to each country or region.
The proposed measures, interventions and actions to be developed in the strategic plans, maintain the structure of the CAP in two pillars, reinforce the environmental aspect and climate change in decoupled direct payments, which remain the “star” measure, maintain the regimes existing sectors, and introduce the possibility of designing operational programs similar to fruit and vegetables to other sectors if the Member State so foresees.
The group regretted that “the European Commission did not propose a brave debate on the management of the markets under the argument that the reform of the Omnibus regulation already discussed it, when during the debates of that same regulation it was argued that they did not want to do a great reform before discussing the CAP 2021-2027. The sector is still out in the open to prevent serious market crises“, they said.
Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España observes “very interesting ideas a priori, such as investment, the promotion of OPs and AOPs of an economic nature through operational programs, a broader advisory system for farms or the best investments for innovation in the sector. However, the uncertainty about the budget and its probable reduction will make it very difficult to cover all fronts, especially when the Commission suggests that the best way to fight for common European challenges is the design of strategic plans by Member State that can endanger the unit of the market and the positive impact of the CAP”, have valued.