Among the items discussed at the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of October 22, was the distribution of direct aid among farmers. As part of the reform of the CAP, the European Commission proposes that income support converge towards a uniform value per hectare within a state or region, by 2019 at the latest. This to reduce the gaps between farmers and improve the legitimacy of the CAP subsidies.
Some Member States that have kept historical level of payments – calculated according to yield levels or per animal head from 1992 – are trying to postpone the deadline of 2019, arguing the brutality of such phasing out of historical aids for their farmers.
An old chesnut
The phasing out of the historical aids was already part of the 2003 reform. But the final agreement made it optional, paving the way for different direct payment schemes in the EU.
At the time, several states fearing the negative impacts of decoupling on farming or production potential in general, have chosen to perpetuate historical references. This is particularly the case in France.
In contrast, other states have combined models more or less complex to move away permanently from historical aid. In 2005, Germany and England chose a convergence path towards a more uniform payment per hectare in 2013.
The 10 new states that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007, have adopted the single payment scheme at the surface (SAPS), which was not indexed to historical levels, since their agricultural land had no references earlier.
Six states challenging the principle of a single rate of aid in 2020
At the recent meeting of the Council on October 22nd, a group of Member States, led by Ireland, and including Denmark, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Portugal supported an alternative proposal for the convergence of aid between farmers.
They spoke about time and flexibility, but mostly they refute the principle of a uniform flat rate:
“The above mentioned Member States agree on moving to a direct income support more equitably distributed between farmers by reducing the link to historical references, but question the proposed approach based on a national or regional “flat rate”. Diversity and complexity of agriculture across the EU requires greater flexibility for Member States in an almost fully decoupled system of direct payments. ”
Then they call for prudence:
“The economic and financial situation, together with the resulting budget constraints, recommend the highest prudence in moving support between farmers. The objective of maintaining agricultural activity throughout the EU is still present in the CAP towards 2020. Income support should take into account different situations among farmers, regions, and agricultural sectors within the limit of WTO commitments. ”
And they claim a similar rate of convergence between states and farmers:
“Internal convergence between farmers should be consistent with the external convergence proposed between Member States. Therefore, the system of direct payments should allow Member States to limit losses to farmers by partially, rather than fully, converging payments, in the same manner as proposed for convergence between Member States. ”
“Proportional Greening”
In addition, the proposal states that Member States may apply the green component as a percentage of base pay established at the individual level and not at the national or regional level. That is to say, a “proportional” greening.
For example, a basic payment €300 per hectare in 2013 would place a green payment of €100 in 2014, while a basic payment €200 would result in a green payment of €66.66. The rate of green payment would differ depending on the history level of each, in return for identical commitments for all farmers: diversification of crop rotation, protection of permanent grasslands and 7% ecological focus areas.
Introducing this debate on October 22th at the Council, the Commissioner Ciolos opposed this proposed greening “proportional”, while the French Minister Stéphane Le Foll has meanwhile remained “open.”
This discussion shows that the convergence and the greening of direct aid are closely related for Member States that still have a historical references model. Further delay in phasing out historical aids weakens the legitimacy of the CAP in 2020.