The German Federal Government finally published its data on 16 June, but the state of Bavaria has decided not to publish. In these circumstances, the European Commission has no choice but to start an infringement procedure against Germany.
The Common Agriculture Policy was initially established to guarantee stable supplies of food to European citizens at a reasonable price, and a fair standard of living for its farmers. Successive reforms have shifted its focus somewhat, and today there is an enormous emphasis on meeting the needs and concerns of consumers and citizens in relation to food quality and safety, animal welfare and the environment.
Council Regulation 1290/2005 requires the relevant department of agriculture to publish, on its website, details of beneficiaries of schemes funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
It is hoped that increased transparency of CAP funding will help the preparations for an informed debate on the future of the CAP after 2013. Transparency should also improve the management of the funds by "reinforcing public control" over how the money is spent. Commission for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel stressed the fact that this is taxpayers’ money, and it is therefore very important that people know where it is being spent.
In the run-up to the CAP review in 2013, Member States are already positioning themselves, yet concrete conclusions from the Council are still to be issued. The Czech Presidency failed to adopt Council Conclusions on the future of the CAP on 22 June 2009, and the French Presidency found it similarly hard to reach an agreement with all the Member States. The negotiations on the European budget and the CAP post-2013 appear to be particularly difficult, with both the ’liberals’ (UK, Sweden, Denmark) and the new Member States standing their ground. The new Member States in particular want to see more emphasis put on making the CAP more equitable across the EU.
For more information
DG Agriculture and Rural Development CAP Beneficiaries site
EPHA related articles
NGOCAP meeting, 9 September 2008
CAP Health Check goes a step further towards modernisation and simplification
Agriculture Commissioner speaks to the AGRI Committee on CAP
