simplification Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

Confidential Legal Advice on CAP Fast Track Uncovered – Critique of a Meek Opinion

April 20, 2024 Oliver Moore

Under pressure from farmer protests, upcoming elections and its own cowardice in the face of climate and biodiversity collapse, the political establishment in Brussels and beyond is fast-tracking the evisceration of CAP’s environmental elements. This rush job began on 15th March with a proposal from the Commission, and will likely end Thursday 25th when the last full plenary of the Parliament rubber stamps the proposed regulation. The latest piece of sequencing was confidential legal advice given to the European Parliament on the process. In part one Natasha Foote outlined the proposal and the legal advice. Here Oliver Moore applies a critical analysis to shortcomings therein. […]

22 Scientists say CAP Communication “fails to address main agricultural challenges”

February 19, 2018 Sebastian Lakner

Sebastian Lakner & Guy Pe’er question the effectiveness of the current CAP’s performance, as well as the lack of ambition in the CAP communication. Current direct payments and upcoming supposed flexibilities are considered in detail. […]

Omnibus Passes Ag Committee – Analysis

November 23, 2017 ARC

what amounts to a mini CAP reform has just passed a crucial stage towards becoming law. There is but a single plenary (all MEPs) vote in the Parliament left, most likely in December. So what was agreed and what does it mean?
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Omnibus Agreed, Concerns Expressed Over Procedures & Content

October 13, 2017 ARC

The Agricultural part of an omnibus regulation has been reached in Estonia. Omnibus regulation adjusts financing for the EU budget in agriculture and other areas. […]

July CAP briefing | Council, Stakeholders & Co-Financing

July 19, 2017 ARC

Progress towards a CAP Communication is ongoing, with two events recently. These have updated Minister and other stakeholders of the progress towards a making changes in the Common Agricultural Policy – CAP. They have also providing an opportunity to test the popularity of ideas and make the case for sector positions. Here’s our July CAP roundup. […]

COMAGRI Rejects Commission’s Pesticides & EFA Proposal

June 6, 2017 ARC

MEPs on the Agriculture Committee (COMAGRI) have rejected a proposal by the EU Commission to ban pesticides from Ecological Focus Areas. The proposal was part of a simplification initiative by the EU Commission, whereby a bundle of 14 changes in CAP greening rules were put forward. […]

COPA’s #AfterCAP plans: fail on market, red tape & public goods – Lakner

December 13, 2016 Sebastian Lakner

Sebastian Lakner finds fault with the recent COPA contribution to our #AfterCAP debate in terms of market policies, red tape and public goods. He presents his suggestions. […]

Will Pesticides be banned in Ecological Focus Areas?

October 26, 2016 Oliver Moore

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan appears to be sticking to his guns on the banning of pesticides in Ecological Focus Areas, despite the opposition of 18 EU Member States. So what’s next? […]

CAP greening and new supports on agenda for Council

July 15, 2016 ARC

A new package of supports and a first year review of CAP greening are two of the key items on the agenda for the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on Monday 18th July in Brussels. […]

WHES2016 – Making (Radio) Waves in Ireland

January 24, 2016 ARC

Wir Haben Es Satt (WHES2016) made the news in Ireland this year, via ARC2020’s Oliver Moore. Have a listen to what he said….. […]

CAP Simplification Cuts Inspections & Greening

November 17, 2015 Oliver Moore

20% the number of inspections and even more adjustment to the lighter shade of pale that is greening. Simplification Hogan style. […]

CAP Simplification – simply destroying greening?

June 4, 2015 Oliver Moore

According to the EU Commission, a first set of specific actions towards CAP simplification have been announced by Commissioner Phil Hogan, on issues related to the guidelines for Direct Payments this year. Hogan explained: “Some of the proposals which concern direct payments do not require changing the legislative rules, but can be implemented at the level of our current guidelines, and applicable already this year. I intend to follow-up on these proposals by making 6 concrete changes which should facilitate the lives of farmers and national administrations.” These six changes proposed relate to the EFA-layer (Ecological Focus Area), adjacent EFAs, the LPIS (Land Parcel Identification system) and compensation of EFAs in case of wrong declaration. More specifically, the Commission intends: to accept that Member States, that so wish, only need to map declared EFAs; to allow flexibility as regards the identification of EFA’s in the EFA-layer (concerns hedges or wooded strips and trees in line); to allow hedges or wooded strips with gaps up to 4 metres; as regards the implementation of adjacent EFA, in […]