Europe 1 with AFP 22:57, November 23, 2021

The European Parliament adopted on Tuesday the new common agricultural policy, intended to "green" agriculture. 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.

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 EU's environmental ambitions. 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).

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.

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.

A "more sustainable, more transparent" CAP

"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 enable the CAP to ensure a transition towards more sustainable agriculture". 

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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.

"Structural changes"

At least 10% of direct payments will have to be redistributed to small and medium-sized farms, states will have to 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 out a greater room for maneuver granted to the Member States, which "will prevent proper implementation of the CAP".

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"A de facto renationalization, a historical misunderstanding", also criticized the French socialist Eric 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 Renew Europe side (center), Pascal Canfin hailed "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 decision criticized by the Greens

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, agribusiness and climate-skeptics".

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.