Will it be top or bottom for the new CAP?

The Member States of the European Union have Wednesday October 21 reached an agreement on the new CAP, which will enter into force in 2021. The main goal of the new agricultural policy is to create a future-proof agricultural sector that is in balance with nature, the environment and climate. This is done, among other things, by reserving 20% ​​of the direct income support for agricultural entrepreneurs who contribute to the objective with their efforts. In the new CAP it also remains possible for agricultural collectives to work on agricultural nature and landscape management on a subsidized basis.

"It is a good step towards a 'new' agricultural sector," Schouten said after the meeting. She does make a side note: "The Netherlands would have liked to go further and I do not hide the fact that I had hoped for more ambition, but as so often in Europe, you have to make compromises." And a well-known consequence of making compromises is that the wedge between one group and another often becomes even wider. This is also reflected in the reactions to the new policy.

Agricultural policy watered down too much
The agriculture ministers have determined the red line, but it is now up to the Member States individually to develop the plans. The most important question: when is an effort green? Schouten will draw up eco schemes in collaboration with provinces and municipalities. These schemes can cover many topics: from meadow bird management and herb-rich grassland to hedgerow improvement and investments in animal welfare. And there is the first tricky point. GroenLinks states that the new plan with eco schemes is a hitch in the Green Deal. "The ambitions contained therein can no longer be achieved," says Bas Eickhout (GroenLinks).

A large group of nature organizations also does not support the compromise of reserving 'only' 20% of direct income support for nature, climate and environment-related efforts. Natuurmonumenten, the World Wildlife Fund, Milieudefensie and LandschappenNL, among others, argue that innovation and sustainability are not given a chance. For example, they believe that 50% of these subsidies should be reserved for eco-schemes that contribute to ecological recovery. Moreover, these arrangements must be properly safeguarded, something which, according to the authorities, has still not been possible.

Interest group Bionext shares the opinion of the nature organizations and states that the desired greening in the organic sector is not feasible in this way. "If regular agriculture does not invest further in sustainability, the contrast between agricultural systems will become increasingly greater." Although the organization welcomes the fact that Member States are being asked to pay attention to organic farming, it is somewhat disappointed in the compromises. They believe that the proposals to make policy greener and to pay more attention to biodiversity and climate have been watered down too much.

Too little freedom to farm
On the other side is a party such as Forum for Democracy, which argues that the European Union still interferes too much with farm work. Although many of the 'green proposals' were voted down last week, the party believes that farmers still cannot be in charge of their own farms. "What started with the aim of guaranteeing a stable food supply, with favorable prices for consumers and farmers, has grown into a regulatory system to push a green, ecological agenda," the party said. Various farmers also read between the lines that Europe still wants to decide how farming should be done. Something that the farmers really have to do themselves.

One party that looks at the new policy with a sober eye is the CDA. "For the CDA, it is especially important that the survival of family businesses and thus food security is guaranteed. In other words: an ambitious sustainable evolution together with farmers and not a green revolution against farmers," says MEP Annie Schreijer-Pierik. The CDA is pleased with the relaxation of the cracking ban, flexibility for peat meadow areas and an exception for buffer zones along waterways, although it is disappointed that the level of subsidies has been equalized. "You cannot impose many more requirements on the one hand, while on the other hand you reduce income support." LTO Netherlands has also previously expressed negative views on this point.

And yes, then the eco schemes are discussed again. The CDA does not comment very strongly on this, but does highlight the magnitude of the challenge. "There is a very important task for the ministry in The Hague and the Dutch provinces to jointly draw up sufficiently accessible national eco schemes and, above all, to make these schemes more financially attractive for farmers."

Make or break: what will it be?
The big question now is whether it will be make or break for the new agricultural policy on Friday evening. Of course, this remains a waste of money, even though 2 parties have already spoken out. The CDA votes in favor of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. “I am quite satisfied with the overall picture, even though it remains a compromise,” Schreijer-Pierik explains. The SGP has also announced that it will vote in favor of the new agricultural policy. Whether the critical parties can get over the compromises remains to be seen.