In the framework of the continuing farmers' protests in several Member States, including Spain, yesterday, the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers began debating the proposal to simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which was presented by the European Commission last week, as well as the proposals of the Member States and their implementation.
One of the main measures proposed by the Commission is simplifying certain cross-compliance requirements that EU farmers must meet to receive CAP support. The Commission acknowledges the difficulties of applying them in certain circumstances and seeks to alleviate the burden of basic standards (also known as GAEC: Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions).
Many in the fruit and vegetable sector, especially those with greenhouse farms, are still excluded from the CAP basic aid scheme, so they don't apply these agricultural measures. FEPEX considers it crucial to expand the actions proposed by the Commission and discussed in the Council to cover crisis management measures, improve competitiveness, and control imports that could seriously harm the productive sectors.
Meanwhile, farmers from several Member States protested in Brussels as the meeting of the Council of Ministers was taking place. In Spain, in Madrid, there was a massive demonstration in front of the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food and the European Commission. These protests will continue in various parts of Spain this week.
Source: fepex.es