Latest posts
The green menu system: an idea worth considering
The idea of the “green menu system”, proposed by the Groupe de Bruges in their recently published critical analysis of the Commission’s proposals is well worth considering.
Greening of the CAP: is the “Emperor Naked”?
The post is discussing whether the substance of the proposed greening of the CAP even allows for a more targeted and environmentally tailored orientation of the policy, or is it more about the fight for preservation of the money for agriculture. The...
Leaked Commission figures sound death knell for biodiesel
Leaked figures for the Commission's default values for carbon emissions from biofuels including indirect land use change suggest biodiesel might no longer be eligible to be counted against the EU's renewable transport energy target.
Agricultural Council discusses the single CMO
The first Agricultural Council under the Danish Presidency chaired by Danish Agriculture Minister Mette Gjerskov discussed the Commission's proposed single CMO regulation last Monday. Divisions were evident over sugar quotas, but a positive sign was...
The political feasibility of CAP redistribution
The demand from the new member states for greater convergence in the value of the direct payment per eligible hectare in the current CAP negotiations means that the redistribution of budget resources between the member states is now firmly on the ref...
The CAP at Fifty
Today, the European Commission has launched the fiftieth anniversary of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Commission’s campaign wants to emphasise the CAP as a cornerstone of European integration, as a policy that has provided European citizens w...
Rising agricultural incomes: good or bad news?
EU agricultural real income per worker has risen again in 2011, raising serious questions regarding the idea of continuous income support endorsed by the European Commission.
More on the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-A)
Some further information on the Commission's plans for the EIPA-A is now in the public domain, but we are still waiting for a Communication to spell out how exactly it will contribute to strengthening innovation in the agri-food sector.
Changing global agricultural power
The UK Oxford Farming Conference commissioned a report to examine the dynamics and implications of global agricultural power. What is meant by agricultural power and why might it be important?
Commission projects unchanged sugar market following quota elimination
The Commission’s expectations for the EU sugar market following the end of sugar quotas in 2015 are contained in its market outlook to 2020 publication published last month. The elimination of quotas is expected to have a negligible impact on the E...
Commission projects unchanged sugar market following quota elimination
The Commission’s expectations for the EU sugar market following the end of sugar quotas in 2015 are contained in its market outlook to 2020 publication published last month. The elimination of quotas is expected to have a negligible impact on the E...
The Polish Presidency and Agriculture: A Mixed Performance
The Polish Presidency was not focusing especially on agriculture but has reached some important results as well as missed some opportunities depending on which side of the coin one looks.
The changing landscape of agricultural support
While levels of agricultural support and protection have been falling in OECD countries, agricultural support in a number of (but not all) emerging economies has been increasing. Rising agricultural support in emerging economies may lead to these cou...
Europe’s hens to have a happier New Year
Europe's laying hens are looking forward to a happier New Year, but what will happen to the eggs from the 50 million birds still kept in conventional battery cages?
Environment Ministers fail to endorse Commission’s greening proposals
The refusal of the Environment Council meeting on 19 December last to endorse the Commission’s greening proposals in its legislative proposals for CAP reform has been interpreted as a victory for agricultural interests attempting to water down the...
The challenge of moving to the regional model
Moving to the regional model of basic income support poses considerable challenges for member states which currently use the historical model. An Irish proposal seeks to create a linkage between the mechanism used for converging payments across membe...
CAP reform conference December 19th 2011
Commission conference with academics and researchers on the CAP reform legislative reform proposals on 19 December 2011.
Agreeing the allocation of CAP funds between Member States
Ireland proposes an allocation key based on Pillars 1 and 2 combined which has the virtue of consistency but which would need further modifications to make it acceptable to the new member states.
What Durban means for EU agriculture
Decisions at the Durban climate conference will have potentially important effects for the challenges facing EU farming as it attempts to reduce its carbon footprint in order to meet EU greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
