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  • 26-01-2021 11:05

EU/Presidency: Farm policy deal can be reached in Portugal presidency - minister


Brussels, Jan. 26, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's minister of agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes, on Tuesday expressed confidence that an agreement on a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the European Union would be reached during her country's presidency of the Council of the EU, in comments at the European Parliament in which she assured members that existing differences can be overcome.

Testifying by videoconference to the parliament's agriculture committee, Antunes said that she believed that the "differences are surmountable" and that "it will be possible to find a solution that accommodates" the 10-percentage-point difference in proposed funding for environmental protection, with the Council proposing 20% and the European Parliament 30%.

She added that "concluding the work on the CAP is one of the main priorities [of the presidency] and postponing the negotiations is a risk we cannot take."

The minister, who reiterated that the aim was to conclude the agreement by the spring, also noted that the parliament "is counting on transparency and on our collaboration to complete the CAP reform in this semester."

In the debate on the presidency's priorities for the six months, Antunes also referred to the 'From Farm to Fork' strategy, aimed at "supporting the transition to a fairer and more sustainable food system" and argued for "adequate support" for farmers who reduce their use of pesticides.

Portugal's presidency is to hold negotiations with the parliament on the new CAP on three proposals for regulations: the common organisation of markets, national strategic plans and horizontal regulation to improve the common framework for audits and controls.

The new CAP should be approved during Portugal's presidency and take effect in 2023, with transitional rules in force until then.

GI/ARO // ARO.

Lusa