The European Commission intends to adopt – before the end of 2017 – a Communication on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made this announcment to 400 delegates at the Agriculture Outlook event in Brussels on Tuesday.
Junker stated the aim of “modernisation and simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy to maximise its contribution to the Commission’s political priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.” He added “The first step will be a public consultation which will be launched at the beginning of next year.”
For his part Ag Commissioner Phil Hogan said he was “convinced, based on our market experiences as well as our international commitments, that the CAP has to ensure greater market resilience, more sustainable agricultural production and progress on generational renewal.”
Other noteworthy elements of his speech include:
“It is my determination that basic income support and an effective safety net will continue as an essential element of any new CAP through a system of direct payments.”
“The forthcoming public consultation on the Communication provides an ideal platform for debating all issues relating to the CAP…the new CAP will have to have a higher level of environmental ambition. (emphasis in original text)”
“The European Commission does not have a monopoly of wisdom about the ideal policy for the future. We want your input and active and constructive engagement, beginning with the public consultation, which I expect to launch early in the New Year.”
ARC2020 are already developing CAP Communication, with our CAP debate #AfterCAP. Already comprising five varied contributions from experts in their respective fields, this will continue in the weeks ahead.
After CAP Debate
Read our exclusive #AfterCAP debate, which began in November, with individual contributions from:
Jan Dowue Van Der Ploeg; Samuel Feret; Alan Matthews; Sebastrian Lakner and Rainer Oppermann; Olga Kikou and Pekka Pesonen. More will continue to be added.
EU Agriculture Outlook Event
EU Agriculture Outlook Conference details
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission Opening Statement (FR)- see recording (Europe by Satellite)
Phil Hogan Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development The modernisation and simplification of the CAP: sustainability and the climate challeng. See recording (Europe by Satellite)
