Towards a reform

2012 marks the 50th anniversary since the adoption of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a milestone of European integration which ensured provisions to European citizens and agricultural vivacity for five decades, despite the good and bad times. In 1962 Europeans were worried about not having enough food. Today, although sufficient victualling remains important, new concerns have come to the fore, which involve areas such as agriculture and breeding, climate change and a sustainable use of natural resources. What has changed over the past 50 years? And where is CAP going? The milestones. CAP has been the EU’s first integrated policy, which paved the way to the single European market, bound to became a reality thirty years later, in 1992. This policy has been marked by three main phases: it helped bring Europe from a period of food shortage to fulfilling food demand; it changed and adapted to the transformations caused by sustainability and environmental factors; and finally, it extend the farmers’ role in rural development, going beyond the mere production of food resources. Over the past decade the EU has become the largest world importer and biggest market of food from developing countries: more than the US, Japan, Australia and Canada combined. Under the ‘everything but arms’ agreement, the EU has given free market access to all least developed countries. In the meantime conspicuous funding was given to agricultural areas from the north to the south of Europe: as much as half of Community budget (CAP and Rural Development account for 40.8% of all EU resources, amounting to 60 billion euros) through dedicated funds, which in some cases help modernize production, improve farmers’ quality of life whilst supporting farms and agricultural enterprises. But EU funding is also used for squandering, and to finance measures for the "protection" of European products. The new reform. Following the 2004 and 2007 enlargements, with 12 new Member States, the EU farming population doubled, which inevitably led to a reconsideration of CAP. "A new balance is needed with a new partnership between European society, providing financial resources through its national policies and its farmers, who preserve the environment and the rural areas, in order to guarantee European citizens healthy and quality food production", said Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloº, on the occasion of the presentation of the CAP Reform, on October 12 2011. The objective is enshrined in four key points, namely, boosting competitiveness and innovation at economic and environmental level, fighting climate change, promoting employment, helping to develop rural areas, respecting diversity at national level. Finally, cutting red tape. The Commission proposes to simplify mechanisms such as conditionality and supervisory regulations, whilst preserving efficiency. Next meetings. At what point is the process for the launch of a new CAP? First of all it should be remembered that starting in December 1st 2009 – with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty – also the reform of agriculture fell within the province of the European Parliaments and national governments, represented in the EU Council. Before the summer season the rapporteurs appointed by the EU Parliament’s Agriculture Commission presented the reports on four legislative proposals for CAP reform, which are due to undergo debate by the EP Commission in November 2012. Adoption by EP is linked to the definition of the agricultural budget provided for by the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 that will be the object of a summit of EU27 heads of government and state next November 22-23. If a political agreement between Council and Parliament were reached within the established deadlines (end 2012), the new CAP could come into force as of January 1st 2014. But for the time being the "proposed" agenda is in progress. So as not to jeopardize future CAP, a few days ago farmers, environmentalists and consumers have "besieged" the Assembly Square in Brussels requesting a strong commitment on the part of MEPs for the adoption of a reform capable of ensuring sustainable farming, according to traditional practices, to ensure healthy and quality food. The future of agriculture, of Europe, and of its citizens are at stake.