Common organisation of agricultural markets (CMO): regime of the single payment scheme and support to vine-growers 2014-2020

The Presidency presented to the ministers its progress report on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) (8949/12).

Member states broadly welcomed the progress report and overall considered it a fair and accurate reflection of the debate in the Council, which would it lay a solid foundation for the next steps in the process under the Cypriot and Irish Presidencies. They also noted that the next presidencies had to deepen discussions on the open issues. Some delegations commented on issues of importance to them, particularly in relation to capping, convergence of direct payments and greening.

This progress report highlights the progress achieved during the first half of 2012 on the CAP reform proposals. It has been drawn up under the responsibility of the Presidency on the basis of the positions expressed within the Council and its preparatory bodies during this semester. It makes clear that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

The report highlights the efforts made by the Presidency, especially on increased flexibility, simplification and greening. It indicates the main amendments suggested to the Commission proposals and on which the Presidency has noted broad support from delegations.

The Presidency's suggested amendments aim to resolve a number of issues raised by delegations, particularly with a view to ensuring that future CAP legislation is workable in practice and can be implemented in a cost-effective manner.

This report also identifies for each of the proposals the key issues which remain outstanding as at June 2012, including issues contained in the negotiating box for heading 2 of the  Multiannual financial framework (MFF).

The report distinguishes between three categories of issues:

• issues on which there is broad support among delegations for the amendments suggested by the Presidency to the Commission proposals;
• issues which remain outstanding as at June 2012;
• issues which are included in the negotiating box of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework and which the European Council will ultimately decide upon.

As regards the proposal aiming to amend the current Single CMO Regulation by providing for the definite transfer of the support measures to vine-growers to the Single Payment Scheme, the EP Committee on Agriculture is expected to adopt its report on 18 June 2012. The position reached in the Special Committee on Agriculture includes amendments providing for a one-year measure applicable in 2014 and the possibility to operate a one-off transfer as from 2015.