Future-proof reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP2013)
Increased focus on strengthening global competitiveness and supply of public goods is needed to future-proof the Common Agricultural Policy.
The Common Agricultural Policy plays a key role in terms of ensuring as identical framework conditions for agricultural and food production as possible. Moreover, the policy is essential when it comes to food quality, a better environment and nature, security of supply and rural development. However, increased focus on strengthening global competitiveness and supply of public goods is needed to future-proof the Common Agricultural Policy.
- The agricultural policy must be in keeping with the EU’s Europe 2020 growth strategy to facilitate the competitiveness of the food sector in the global market. Europe is competing directly with countries like Brazil, the USA and China – countries that are generally subject to more relaxed requirements in the context of the environment, animal welfare and food safety.
- The distribution of farm subsidies among the EU member states, including structural and rural development funds, must be balanced between farms experiencing difficult conditions and a high-technology, export-oriented agricultural sector such as the Danish one.
- Environmental pioneers need to be recognised in relation to the European Commission’s proposal for a “green component” in Pillar 1 of the CAP so that Danish farmers are not punished for having been producing subject to stricter national regulations.
- The Rural Development Policy must pursue a two-fold objective: An improvement of competitiveness with, for instance, focuses on innovation and translation of new knowledge into practical solutions. Support of sustainable agricultural production, with focus on the environment, organic farming, food quality, climate-friendly production and food safety. To achieve these objectives, Denmark needs to receive a fairer share of the EU rural development budget. Moreover, the Rural Development Policy must help ensure commercial activities in rural districts – e.g. in the form of increasing agritourism, local food projects, etc.
- The CAP must also contribute to ensuring the Green Growth target of a doubling of the area used for organic farming by 2020. The development of market-driven organic farming in Denmark depends significantly on the CAP continuing to provide an ample opportunity to stimulate both production and sales after 2013.
- A voluntary component must still exist to help ensure diverse agricultural production. For instance, such component must motivate extensive production, including grass-based production of milk and beef as well as organic production.
- The existing market instruments must be maintained and ensure an effective safety net for products already comprised by the existing market instruments. Furthermore, the introduction of new crisis and risk tools must not be at the expense of current tools.