Agricultural Trade Hundred Questions How does the new EU Common Agricultural Policy reflect more fairness to farmers?

　　The Second World War caused great damage to European agriculture.
In order to ensure the supply of agricultural products, the European Community ( predecessor of the European Union ) introduced the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 1962 to stimulate agricultural production.
The CAP funds were spent from the European Community budget
.
CAP has undergone many reforms since its introduction, and the implementation period of the previous version of CAP is 2014-2020
.
Under normal circumstances, the EU should issue CAP (2021-2027) before the end of 2020
.
Due to factors such as Brexit and the new crown pneumonia epidemic, new policies have been delayed
.
In order not to affect implementation, the EU urgently issued a transition plan for 2021-2022 in 2020; on June 25, 2021, an agreement was reached on the reform of CAP (2023-2027) (hereinafter referred to as the new CAP), pending formal approval in the fall of 2021
.
According to existing news, the new CAP will be fairer, more environmentally friendly, and more flexible
.
So, how does the new CAP show that it is more fair to EU farmers?

 

　　Only feed active farmers

 

　　In order to ensure that farmers are treated more fairly, the new CAP requires that they must be active farmers to receive EU subsidies
.
The EU defines active farmers in four main aspects: First, it is necessary to determine whether they meet the minimum level of agricultural activities based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria, such as the status of farm labor input, whether the farm is registered, farm income, and others.
Comparison of income from economic activities, etc.
; second, a negative list of agricultural activities is listed, and farmers engaged in activities on the negative list will not be able to receive EU subsidies; third, multi-professional farmers (farmers who also engage in other professional activities) and part-time farmers are allowed Obtain subsidies; fourth, member states can regard farmers who receive direct payments of more than 5,000 euros as active farmers
.
This definition has mandatory requirements, but it also has flexibility
.

 

　　Increase smallholder income

 

　　The new CAP has increased income support for small and medium-sized family farms, including: First, it is mandatory for EU member states to use at least 10% of their total direct payments for income redistribution; second, EU member states can choose to cut back on large farms.
Subsidies and subsidies for large farms are capped, and member countries are encouraged to include payment reductions and caps for large farms in their strategic plans; third, to encourage the use of separate smallholder subsidies instead of different types of direct payments to strengthen support for small farms ; Fourth, in order to solve the difficulties faced by certain specific agricultural industries or specific types of agriculture, EU member states can continue to use pegged payments
.

 

　　Promote equalization of subsidies

 

　　In order to make subsidies more balanced, the EU requires member states to reduce the difference in subsidies received per hectare of farmland in their countries, and the EU level will also reduce the difference in subsidies received per hectare of farmland among member states
.
On the one hand, EU member states need to continue to reduce the difference between their domestic payments per hectare of agricultural land, and by 2026, they must ensure that the direct payment received for each payment right reaches at least 85% of their domestic average; on the other hand, On the one hand, the amount of direct payments received per hectare of agricultural land is lower than the average of 90% of the EU member states, and the EU will increase its support to these member states by half of the above-mentioned difference
.
By 2022, within the EU, the direct payment per hectare of agricultural land cannot be less than 200 euros, and in 2027, it cannot be less than 215 euros
.

 

　　Support youth and female farmers

 

　　On the one hand, the new CAP requires EU member states to use at least 3% (currently 2%) of their country’s direct payments to subsidize young farmers to start farms.
The support methods include income subsidies, investment subsidies or entrepreneurship assistance to young farmers
.
On the other hand, the EU requires member states to assess the current gender imbalance in agriculture, and introduce corresponding countermeasures to increase the number of women engaged in agriculture, and requires all members to include the above content in their CAP strategic plan
.