Copa Cogeca: EU auditors confirm 'alarm' over CAP proposals
Copa Cogeca has said that the European Court of Auditors has confirmed the organisation's "alarm" over proposals on the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
On Monday (February 9), the auditors published its opinion on the draft laws which would govern the bloc’s agriculture, food and farming from 2028 to 2034.
The EU’s financial watchdog said that the European Commission's current proposals for CAP post-2027 risk creating uncertainty and delaying funds.
Copa Cogeca
Copa and Cogeca views the opinion "as an institutional confirmation of the sector’s long-standing concerns", which has prompted major farming protests.
The umbrella group representing European farmers and agri-cooperatives said the opinion, requested by the European Parliament and EU Council is "unequivocal".
"The commission’s plan raises serious issues, from the erosion of the CAP’s common nature under the proposed Single Fund approach to the uncertainties and complexities it will create for farmers.
"Under the commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the CAP would be significantly reshaped and integrated into a broader Single Fund and the implementation of single national plans.
"While presented as a measure to simplify and increase flexibility, Copa and Cogeca have consistently warned against the full-length renationalisation of the CAP, which carries multiple, cascading consequences for the agricultural sector," the organisation said.
Copa Cogeca said the opinion of the auditors confirms what it has been warning for months.
The opinion highlights that the complexity of planning arrangements and the new legal architecture could create uncertainty for member states.
They warn of the risk of reduced predictability for beneficiaries, and delay in the delivery of funds, undermining the commission’s simplification objective.
The auditors said that the total CAP funding will only be known once national plans are adopted by the EU Council.
Copa Cogeca said this will complicate financial planning for farmers and makes comparisons with the current CAP challenging.
Auditors
The auditors highlight the risk of undermining the CAP’s common elements, which could lead to uneven competition and distortions within the internal market.
"A striking political paradox emerges: at a time when the EU calls for deeper integration, the commission is moving to renationalise its historically most integrated policy," Copa Cogeca said.
"For Copa and Cogeca, the publication of this opinion marks a landmark moment.
"We call on the European Parliament and the Council to act on these recommendations and ensure that the CAP remains a strong, common and predictable policy, supporting Europe’s farmers, rural communities, and food security," the organisation added.
