EU Agriculture Ministers Reach Accord on Cross Compliance

Brussels, 21 January

EU agriculture ministers reached in Brussels on Monday agreement on cross compliance within the framework of direct payments in agriculture. The compromise must be observed by all new EU member states, including Bulgaria and Romania, but excluding Slovenia and Malta.

The compromise means that a part of the cross compliance legislation is to enter into force in 2009 (2012 for Bulgaria and Romania), while the second and third parts are to be enacted in 2011 (2014 for Bulgaria and Romania), a source close to the Slovenian presidency has said.
The new rules raise the threshold for violations that govern halting payments to farmers. Farmers will also receive payments if their violation amounts to up to EUR 100, provided that they remedy the situation by themselves. The state will have to notify the farmer of the discovered irregularities and inform him that it would not withdraw the aid if he eliminates the problem.
While some issues, such as partial payments, still remain open, Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel expressed her readiness to follow-up talks as part of the interim review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Fischer Boel also warned the member states that the new rules on cross compliance would have entered into force already in 2009 if the compromise had not been reached.
The deal prompted the presiding Slovenian Agriculture Minister Iztok Jarc to express pleasure over the fact. We held a constructive yet intensive debate that resulted in the passing of the compromise proposal by the presidency, he said.
Cross compliance tasks the farmers to act in line with the valid standards of environment protection, public health, health of plants and well-being of animals.
In line with today's compromise, farmers will still get payments in the case of lesser violations of the rules if the violations will not entail a risk for health of animals or for public health, according to the diplomatic source.
The ministers also discussed the interim review of the CAP, with most countries highlighting the need for stability and predictability, according to Jarc. He added that Slovenia wanted to hand over the review dossier to its presidency successor France in a way that would enable France to take a decision by the end of 2008.
Member states welcomed the CAP review report of the European Commission, expressing the opinion that the Commission had done a good job in analyzing the effects of the CAP reform and the main challenges for the coming years, the Slovenian presidency said.
Most countries pointed to the need for more concrete proposals on measures for risk management and for the setting up of a safety net in response to potential market crises. Some also expressed the wish for bolder steps towards liberalisation.

EU Agriculture Ministers Reach Accord on Cross Compliance

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