Coupling proves CAP reform sticking point
Scotland’s rural affairs minister Richard Lochhead has hit out at being excluded from vital meetings with other member states about CAP reform.
Mr Lochhead, said the negotiating stance agreed by EU farm ministers on Tuesday (19 March), was a better package than had been originally tabled.
“But dealing with a UK government with different properties has been challenging. One aspect I found immensely frustrating was dealing with the UK government who refused to give us access to vital meetings with other members states or the presidency or the commissioner.”
Mr Lochhead said the deal would allow Scotland to deliver on most of its priorities.
But a key area of concern was the proposed introduction of a two-tier system on coupled payments.
Ministers have suggested that some countries will be allowed to couple 12% of their direct support payments if they want to. However, other countries which have reduced coupling, including the UK, would be restricted to 7% coupling.
“Under this deal, we have seen a two-tier system introduced with Scotland, absurdly, on the lower tier,” said Mr Lochhead. “Our farmers will be rightly dismayed by this unlevel playing field.
“Now we must put our faith in the European Parliament, who adopted a much fairer stance, to do the right thing in the final talks and ensure we have a fair system.”
Nick Fenwick, director of policy for the Farmers’ Union of Wales, agreed that a two-tier system for coupling made little sense.
“The argument against coupling is that it is trade distorting. In that case, surely we should have a common policy. Then if someone says it is trade distorting other countries at least have the option to do the same thing.”
Mr Fenwick said the complexity of the proposals added hugely to the uncertainty facing Welsh farmers.
It was clear that over the next few months there would be lots of horse-trading between the commission, the council of ministers and the European Parliament he said.
The end result was likely to be an agreement that moved away from being a common policy across the EU.
Northern Ireland agriculture minister Michelle O’Neill said the agreement was a good basis on which to enter the next round of negotiations.
“The most notable improvements have been in terms of delivering significant regional flexibility and in providing a greening framework that is more appropriate to a predominantly grass-based agricultural region.”
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