The European Parliament has adopted the transitional regulation that will prolong the Common Agricultural Policy support measures for two more years to help the rural and farmer sector across Europe. This vote also gives the green light for the allocation of over €8 billion from the European Recovery Instrument (ERI) starting from 1st January 2021.

S&D shadow rapporteur on the CAP transitional provisions file, Clara Aguilera García MEP, commented:

“Today is a good day for European farmers. The deal on transitional provisions for the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020, approved today by an overwhelming majority in the Parliament, will ensure stability for the next two years and financial support for the various parts of the agricultural sector, stemming from the current provisions of the CAP.  This was crucial to have the time to finalise the negotiations for the CAP reform and at the same time, ensure legal certainty in this transitional period.

“With the MFF decisions now concluded, we have secured a much more sound dedicated budget for the new CAP compared to the one proposed by the Commission. We have also added new tools, such as measures to relieve the impact of Covid-19 on European farmers, to extend rural development instruments, and in CMO measures* we put forward tools including self-regulation for olive oil production.

“Last but not least, we undid the 3.9% cut for the next two years for the POSEI scheme (the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity and which supports the European Union's outermost regions).

“Today is indeed a good day for European farmers.”

The European Parliament’s rapporteur for rural development in the Next Generation EU plan and the S&D co-ordinator in the agriculture committee, Paolo De Castro MEP, said:

“Rural and agri-food sector operators in Europe will find over €8 billion under the Christmas tree this year. The European Parliament has finally given its green light to bring forward the allocation of over €8 billion from the European Recovery Instrument (ERI) to 1st January 2021 to support the sector in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It will be now up to each member state to make this important economic stimulus available to beef up a more resilient, sustainable and digital sector, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.

“This unusual Christmas will have unusual gifts: in fact, young farmers and socio-economic development for rural areas will be allocated 55% of the funds to support short supply chains, local markets, innovation, smart and precision farming, safety conditions at work, renewable energy and the circular economy.

“For the S&D Group this could not be labelled as a great success if it didn’t have a bold focus on sustainability and the fight against climate change. Therefore, at least 37% of the additional resources will be invested in organic farming, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture, soil conservation, better water management, creating, conserving and restoring habitats favourable to biodiversity, and reducing the risks and impacts of pesticide and anti-microbial use.

“We Progressives made all of this possible. It was our moral duty to show solidarity with those who have never stopped working to put quality food on citizens’ tables, making people lives easier, even in the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic.”­­­­