CAP simplification

EESC, NAT section meeting2 September 2015

Jerzy PLEWADirector-General

DG Agriculture & Rural Development

Outline

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A. Simplification – the overall context

B. What has happened so far?

C. Next steps

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Political context

Mandate Commissioner Hogan

AGRI context

A. Simplification – the overall context

2013 comprehensive reform

Certain elements more complicated as a result of political compromise

Increased flexibility for MS

Political context

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Implementation MS - Direct payments

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Implementation MS – Direct payments (2)

Share of DP envelope left for basic payment at EU-28 level in 2015 = 55%

Food chain organisation, animal welfare, risk management

Farm viability competitiveness, sustainable forest management

Ecosystems in agriculture and forestry

Resource efficiency, low carbon and climate resilience

Social inclusion, poverty reduction, economic development

Knowledge Transfer and Innovation (cross cutting)

Technical Assistance

Share of funds per RD priority

Select simplification features in RD

Simplified Cost Options: Lump-sums Unit cost Flat rate

Simpler mechanisms for applications, payments and controls (both pillars)

CLLD – multifund approach

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Commissioner Hogan's Mission letter:

Simplification key priority

Reviewing potential for simplification on direct payments (particular on greening), rural development, fruit and vegetables scheme and quality policy

screening of agricultural acquis

active involvement stakeholders

Mandate Commissioner Hogan

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Direct payments/CMO versus Rural Development

Simplification framework

AGRI context

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Simplification Framework

3 guiding principles:

Respect 2013 political decisions

Ensure sound financial management

Concentrate on simplification for farmers

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Internal screening exercise of the entire agricultural acquis

MS, EP and stakeholders contributed to the exercise

Council - adoption of Council conclusions

COMAGRI

Civil dialogue groups

B. What has happened so far ?

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Direct payments and IACS: Greening (see next slide), IACS, active farmers, young farmers scheme, small farmers scheme, cross-compliance,

CMO: fruit and vegetable sector, marketing standards, safeguard measures, trade mechanism, reporting requirements, …

Rural Development: programming and approval of RDP's, , double funding, controls, simplified cost options, reporting,

Horizontal issues: reporting, audits,error rates, financial corrections.

Proposals

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Greening: controls, sanctions/penalties, thresholds

EFA: EFA layer, management conditions, conversion and weighting factors

Crop diversification: abolish requirement, simplify control requirements (crop diversification periods,

more types of evidence)

Permanent grassland: abolishment, share of permanent grassland

Greening

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Against 3 guidance principles proposals of internal screening and proposals

MS/stakeholders simplification actions Distinction between amendments at the level of

DA/IA and amendments at level of Basic Act

Assessment of proposals

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Our actions so far - 1

Adoption of two regulations

delay of application date for of aid applications

flexibility for Voluntary Coupled Support

DA: ethyl alcohol - objection EP

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Our actions so far - 2

Changes to current guidelines on direct payments •Only need to map declared EFA elements•Flexibility as regards the identification of certain EFA elements in the EFA layer•Allow hedges or wooded strips with gaps to 4 meters•Certain flexibility with regard to adjacent EFA•Reduced requirements for identification of some specific types of permanent grassland in LPIS•Compensation of missing EFA by another EFA

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C. Next steps (short term)

market measures: align the Commission level rules to the new CMO Regulation – autumn 2015

changes on DA/IA on direct payments (except greening)– autumn 2015

greening: review rules on greening, including Ecological Focus Area (EFA) – spring 2016

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C. Next steps (Rural Development)

Stocktaking & Analysis after approval of RDPs (2015) Continuous updating of guidance Explore ways of simplifying the structure of RDPs

Common ESIF simplification study (2016)

High Level Group on Simplification for ESI funds

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Opening of Basic Acts?

C. Next steps (longer term)

Thank you for your attention

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