Brussels (AFP)

Negotiations on the reform of the CAP, intended to "green" agriculture on the continent but deemed insufficient by environmental NGOs, are in full swing in Brussels, with a view to finalizing an agreement this week.

European agriculture ministers began a two-day meeting on Wednesday to give a boost to negotiations between MEPs and representatives of member states, underway since Tuesday.

The Twenty-Seven agreed in October 2020 on a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will apply from January 2023 with a budget of around 387 billion euros for seven years, including 270 billion in direct subsidies to farmers.

At the same time, the European Parliament had adopted its own roadmap, and since then, MEPs and capitals have been battling hard: they must imperatively agree for the new CAP to enter into force.

"The objective is to go as far as possible in the environmental transition with a budget which has been reduced", summarizes the MEP Anne Sander (EPP, right), one of the negotiators.

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But there are still many points of contention, notably on the compatibility of the CAP with the European strategies of the "Green Pact" (carbon neutrality targeted in 2050) and of the "Ferme à la fourchette" (food security).

These aim to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2030 while reserving a quarter of the land for organic crops ... ambitious objectives not included as such in the CAP.

- "Unraveling" -

At the center of the debates: the new system of "eco-regimes", bonuses granted to farmers participating in more demanding environmental programs.

MEPs demanded that states devote at least 30% of direct EU payments to operators to this, while the 27 advocated a 20% threshold - while leaving governments free to define its content.

Finally, Portugal - which holds the rotating EU presidency - proposed to set a minimum level of eco-regimes of 23% for two years of transition, before increasing to 25%, according to a European diplomat.

"We would be ready to accept that, if after two years, we obtain an alignment of the strategic plans of each State with the requirements of the Green Pact, the quarter of land in organic ... a more robust commitment by giving farmers time to adapt, "says a parliamentary source.

But each state is free to use eco-diets to support organic products, or rather to help farmers reduce pesticides, or to define a more vague content ... Enough to heighten fears of a "renationalization" of the CAP .

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"The Commission wanted to unravel the common character of the CAP. Certainly the production conditions are different according to the countries, but we need strong common standards", a control of the strategies of each State and a centralized instrument to identify grant recipients, says Anne Sander.

- Spectrum of "greenwashing" -

Conversely, governments are alarmed: if a growing share of payments is conditional on compliance with environmental standards (minimum fallow area, crop rotation, etc.), what will be the possible exemptions for farmers?

"It is important to leave flexibility to the States," German Minister Julia Klöckner insisted on her arrival on Wednesday.

"Farmers should not be buried in bureaucracy (...) We want to reward more environmental practices, but it must be financially feasible," she explained.

For the senior diplomat, "it is a question of finding a balance", to prevent "the capitals from doing what they want" with European funds.

Other MEPs (social democrats) also want to make the payment of aid conditional on compliance with social standards, with possible sanctions - an option fiercely refused by the 27.

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Already, the NGO Greenpeace, which demonstrated Wednesday in Brussels, denounces "pure + greenwashing +".

"This CAP continues to finance industrial breeding and the production of animal food, which destroys nature, disrupts the climate, while driving small farmers into bankruptcy", indignant its manager Marco Contiero.

"The protections for wetlands or meadows are non-existent (...) and there are no requirements on the use of fertilizers or nitrates", agrees Célia Nyssens, of the European Office for the Environment.

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