Just a year ago, the European Commission presented its proposal for a “multiannual financial framework” for the years 2021-2027. In other words, the budget of the Union for the next seven years, on which the new Parliament will have to express its opinion. If the latter follows the recommendations of the Brussels executive, the CAP, the common agricultural policy, risks having little left that is common.
The Commission proposed allocating 365 billion euros in current terms to agriculture (for 27 member states), or 28.5% of the Union’s budget. This represents a historically low effort. For the previous period (2014-2020), the CAP had received 403 billion (for 28 member states), 36% of the total. Brexit is not the only reason for the proposed reduction. On an equal basis (the EU of 27) and in constant euros (excluding inflation), the agricultural budget would decrease by 15%, and even by 28% for the envelope allocated to the environment and rural development. This aims to increase, with constant means, the Union’s funds for anti-immigration efforts and defense.
Fewer constraints. Furthermore, in the name of “subsidiarity,” the states will have much greater latitude in allocating agricultural expenses. The Union will continue to define general economic, social, and environmental objectives, but it will be easier for states to arbitrate against the environment and employment in order to defend their respective positions in a deregulated and highly competitive single market.
Organic farming is making little progress, from 5% of cultivated area in 2010 to 7% in 2017. And employment continues to collapse: 4.2 million farms disappeared from 2005 to 2016. It’s not just the small structures that are disappearing (65% of the 10.5 million farms are less than 5 hectares): during these ten years, the only farms whose numbers have increased are those over 100 hectares, which already hold 53% of the agricultural area. And if the CAP aids, which primarily benefit large farms because they are essentially based on the number of hectares, were also used to support agriculture rich in jobs and low in pesticides?
Antoine de Ravignan, Alternatives économiques
