On Monday and Tuesday, October 27th – 28th, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze participated in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg, where ministers discussed the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Green Architecture to be implemented post-2027.
The proposal for the CAP Green Architecture post-2027 includes merging the two CAP pillars—direct payments and rural development measures—into a single set of rules for implementing agricultural policy. The EC proposes eliminating the earmarking of funds for green transition measures while foreseeing broader contributions at the national and regional levels through Partnership Plans. The proposal also introduces changes to the current CAP framework, promoting a more motivating approach that better takes into account the specific characteristics of individual Member States.
Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze stated: “It is important that the European Commission’s proposal for the CAP Green Architecture offers simplification and flexibility. We especially appreciate the possibility to provide support for protective practices and the removal of the requirement to maintain permanent grasslands. However, I believe that all environmental and climate requirements in agriculture, animal welfare, food production, and forestry must be accompanied by appropriate funding. Unfortunately, the EC proposal includes too many mandatory measures and conditions that are not compatible with the CAP’s currently allocated budget. Moreover, for the sake of clarity and genuine simplification, all specific agricultural regulations should be included directly in the CAP legislative proposals rather than incorporated into a single National and Regional Partnership Plan regulation.”
At the Council meeting, the Minister called on the EC to abandon the proposed system of social conditionality under the CAP, as it unnecessarily duplicates existing mechanisms and creates an additional burden for both institutions and businesses. The extensive list of mandatory measures and conditions, including those related to environmental and climate aspects, which are to be implemented regardless of each country’s financial capacity, also drew criticism.
Therefore, the Minister emphasized that Member States must be allowed to choose the support measures that best fit their national circumstances, as is currently the case. Likewise, CAP recommendations should remain advisory rather than mandatory.
Nevertheless, the Minister noted that, overall, the new CAP Green Architecture proposal appears more motivating and simplified, and could therefore be more attractive to farmers.