In the trilogue negotiations in Brussels, delegations from the European Parliament and the Agriculture Council agreed on Friday on a transitional arrangement and a two-year trial period for the new European agricultural policy.
The negotiators also agreed on the accelerated payment of additional support measures.
The agreements made now do not yet concern the new Green Deal agricultural policy. The agreement extends the existing rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) by two years, ensuring that payments can continue.
“The agreement is important because it provides legal certainty and recovery support for the next two years. It is also a solid bridge to new rules, giving both farmers and national governments ample time to prepare for CAP reform after 2022,” said the rapporteur on the transitional rules, Elsi Katainen (Renew Europe, Finland).
The transition phase including the trial period still needs to be approved at the regular meeting of the AGRI agriculture committee. The text also requires the green light from the full Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Additionally, there will be other trilogue negotiations on different CAP components next week. Votes are scheduled for the coming two weeks.
This will establish, against the wishes of the European Commission, a two-year trial period. During this period, current agricultural subsidies will remain in place, additional subsidies will come from corona aid funds, but nothing has yet been agreed regarding stricter Green Deal climate rules.
Environment and Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans hinted again last week in a video conference with Norwegian climate activist Greta Thunberg at the possibility of withdrawing the new CAP policy initiated in 2018.
The European Commission does have that authority, but it would be highly exceptional. In trilogue negotiations within the EU, the rule applies that 'nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.'