On Monday, February 23rd, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze will participate in the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, Belgium. During the meeting, Member States will continue discussions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post–2027, as well as discuss the item proposed by Latvia regarding the simplification of controls and audits related to the implementation of CAP measures.
During the session, Member States will discuss the European Commission’s proposal to introduce country-specific recommendations within the CAP framework for the post-2027 period. These recommendations are intended to serve as the main policy steering mechanism of the EU in order to ensure a level playing field among Member States. It is planned that the recommendations will be approved following consultations with Member States and will be based on an individual analysis of each country.
Member States will also discuss the issue raised by Latvia concerning disproportionate CAP controls and audits. Currently, countries face an increased risk of non-compliance in the first years of implementation, despite significant efforts and investments made in establishing new systems. In Latvia’s view, the audit approach should be adjusted in order to achieve the CAP simplification objectives.
The meeting is also expected to include a presentation by the European Commission on its evaluation of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive.