Mullooly welcomes CAP simplification but with some concerns
Irish MEP Ciaran Mullooly has said he 'cautiously welcomes' the European Commission's package of measures to simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
However, the MEP also said he was concerned over the proposed 'Crisis Fund', which would be financed for natural disasters or other crises, and which would be funded by 3% of a country's CAP envelope.
Mullooly said that the package addresses several issues he had raised directly with Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen.
He said a key measure is the introduction of a single annual inspection, which will cover all aspects of CAP compliance.
'This is a positive step towards reducing duplication and easing the burden on farmers,' Mullooly commented.
He also said the removal of the controversial Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) 2 from baseline requirements is another significant development, saying the change will allow farmers to receive payments where restrictions are placed on their peatland or wetland areas.
According to Mullooly, removal of mandatory buffer strips along watercourses in certain areas is welcomed, providing greater flexibility for land management.
'The increase in the inspection exemption threshold to €2,500 will further reduce the number of small farmers subject to inspection, cutting red tape for those least able to bear it. This threshold needs to reviewed upwards to except more farmers each year,' he said.
However, Mullooly expressed serious concern about the proposed Crisis Fund, which would be financed by a 3% holdback of the CAP budget. This would effectively force farmers to fund compensation for their fellow farmers in the event of natural disasters or market crises.
He called this a 'questionable and potentially unfair approach'.
'While the commission's proposals represent progress, the success or failure of this initiative will ultimately depend on the level of CAP funding going forward,' the MEP said.
'We must continue to closely monitor the implementation of these objectives and ensure that the interests of farmers remain protected,' Mullooly added.
The commission's simplification proposals now will need to be approved by the European Parliament.
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