The European Parliament adopted the new CAP on Tuesday, intended to "
green
" agriculture, despite opposition from environmentalists and part of the left who do not consider it to be up to the environmental ambitions of the EU.
Read also The Common Agricultural Policy, a tangle of aid that has become increasingly complex over time
MEPs, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, voted on three texts governing this Common Agricultural Policy, approved respectively by 452 votes (178 against, 57 abstentions), 485 votes (142 against and 61 abstentions) and 487 votes (130 against and 71 abstentions).
The Greens group voted against these three texts, as did part of the Social Democrats (S&D) and the majority of the GUE (radical left).
387 billion euros budget
This CAP, which will apply from January 2023, has a budget of 387 billion euros until 2027 - nearly a third of the EU's multiannual budget - including 270 billion in aid direct to farmers.
France remains the main beneficiary country.
The reform plans to grant bonuses to farmers participating in more demanding environmental programs, using more ecological techniques or contributing to improving animal welfare.
Read alsoOrganic agriculture: the Assembly votes to strengthen the tax credit in 2023
States will have to devote an average of 25% per year of direct payments to these “
eco-schemes
” between 2023 and 2027, with the possibility of devoting only 20% to them for the first two years.
"
This is a first
", underlined in the hemicycle of the Parliament the German MEP Peter Jahr (EPP, right), rapporteur of one of the three texts.
“
We have made this CAP more sustainable, more transparent and more predictable,
” he said after the vote.
European Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, present in Strasbourg, spoke of "
a good result which will allow the CAP to ensure a transition towards more sustainable agriculture
".
"
A strategic plan
"
Each State must prepare by the end of 2021 a “
strategic plan
” detailing its use of European funds.
Brussels will have to verify the compliance of these national agricultural policies with the objectives of reducing greenhouse gases (Green Pact) and reducing pesticides by 50% by 2030, with a quarter of the land reserved for organic farming.
An alignment which is however not binding enough for environmentalists, which activists denounced in the morning by a
symbolic
"
burial
" of organic farming in front of Parliament. At least 10% of direct payments must be redistributed to small and medium-sized farms, states must use at least 3% of the budget to support young farmers. A
permanent “
crisis reserve
” of at least 450 million euros is established in the event of price instability.
But according to the Lithuanian environmental MEP Bronis Rope, this "
new CAP does not make it possible to resolve social inequalities, nor to achieve the objectives of environmental protection
". He also pointed to a greater room for maneuver granted to Member States, which “
will prevent proper implementation of the CAP
”. "
A de facto renationalization, a historical misunderstanding
", also criticized the French socialist Éric Andrieu, while acknowledging "
real progress
" with in particular "
more regulation
" and sanctions planned for farmers who do not respect the rights of the job.
On the side of Renew Europe (center), Pascal Canfin welcomed "
a good reform which will clearly introduce structural changes in the way agricultural policy is conducted, while being practicable on a daily basis by farmers
".
A point of view contested by the Greens, who demanded a new CAP "
consistent
" with European objectives in terms of biodiversity and food security.
Organic farmer and agronomist, Frenchman Benoît Biteau blasted "
a gift for Eurosceptics, agro-business and climate-skeptics
".
Read also "The diversity of our agriculture is envied by many countries"
Same story with the elected Manuel Bompard (GUE / NGL, radical left), for whom the vote of this CAP is "
in contradiction with all (the) speeches on the Green Pact
", just like the activist for the climate Greta Thunberg who had qualified Friday on Twitter, this CAP of "
disastrous for the climate and the environment
".
After Tuesday's vote, this CAP will still have to receive the formal endorsement of the Member States.