"Improving situation of Hungarian farmers is the objective of the Government during the fine-tuning process of the Common Agricultural Policy" – said György Czerván, Secretary of State for Agricultural Economy, after the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg on 3 April 2017.
The Secretary of State recalled that the European Commission published its proposal for simplification of the four basic CAP regulations in September 2016, which aims to alleviate the administrative burden of farmers and national institutions responsible for implementation as well. It is important to highlight that the proposed amendments do not constitute the review of the 2013 CAP reform.
From the Hungarian point of view, it is an important result that the framework of voluntary coupled support would not change, it will continue to help Hungarian farmers and stimulate employment.
The amendment foresees several simplifications with regard to the active farmer clause, which would further reduce administrative burden on farmers.
"According to the Commission proposal, national financial assistance for fruit and vegetable producer organizations would have been reduced by a quarter, but as a result of a Hungarian initiative, with the support of several Member States, such text has been the put into the Council’s position, which would not only prevent the reduction, but even gives the opportunity to pay the double of the amount, which is currently paid" - György Czerván pointed out.
"Today’s agreement reflects the position of the agriculture ministers, the consent of the European Parliament as co-legislator is also required for the final adoption of the modifications to the CAP basic regulations. This is expected during autumn, thus the new rules will come into force on 1 January 2018, so they are to be applied for claim year 2018" - the Secretary of State added.
On the Council meeting, the Commission presented its report on the implementation of ecological focus areas. Based on this report, the Commission does not plan to increase the current share of the compulsory 5 % of ecological focus areas.
