Simplification of the common agricultural policy on the Council agenda

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union meets in Brussels on 16 November 2015. Finland will be represented by the Minister of Agriculture and the Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen.

The EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan will give the Council a situation report concerning the simplification of the common agricultural policy. Finland fully supports this priority issue. Unfortunately, this year the achievements and progress made in simplification have remained quite modest.

– There is an obvious need for simplification with regard to the basic, implementing and delegated regulations. Next spring the Commission should give proposals for simplification that go deeper than so far, taking account of the Council Conclusions of May and proposals by Member States submitted in spring 2015, says Minister Tiilikainen.

Finland considers that we should focus on simplification from the perspective of farmers, but some of the measures are such that farmers, other rural entrepreneurs, actors in the food sector and national administration will all benefit from them. For example, using risk-based approach in the control all through the food chain would be logical and reduce administrative burden for farmers and administration alike.  Finland also sees a need for simplification in measuring the arable land parcels, where higher tolerances would be needed to allow for minor changes, and the often excessive sanctions imposed to livestock farms. In addition, simplified payment procedures should also be utilized in payments from the EAFRD.

The other topics to be discussed at the Council include the agricultural market situation and Commission’s package of measures to stabilise the markets. Finland considers the package of measures proposed by the Commission as well justified, as well as expects the Commission to provide information on the schedule for opening the aid scheme for the private storage of pigmeat.

The Commission will also present the trends on international agricultural product markets to the agriculture ministers. The ongoing bilateral, regional and multilateral trade negotiation processes include very important issues for European agriculture as well.

Inquiries:
Kari Valonen, Head of EU Coordination, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 295 162 269
Jukka-Pekka Kataja, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 50 341 9934
forename.surname@mmm.fi