| Author (Corporate) | European Commission: DG Agriculture and Rural Development |
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| Publisher | EC |
| Publication Date | 2007 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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The European Commission unveiled 20 November 2007 its blueprint for streamlining and further modernising the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy. The so-called 'Health Check' of the CAP will build on the approach which began with the 2003 reforms, improve the way the policy operates based on the experience gathered since 2003 and make it fit for the new challenges and opportunities in an EU of 27 Member States in 2007. The reforms have modernised the CAP, but the Health Check represents a further opportunity to take the policy review further. The Health Check asks three main questions: how to make the direct aid system more effective and simpler; how to make market support instruments, originally conceived for a Community of Six, relevant in the world of 27; and how to confront new challenges, from climate change, to biofuels, water management and the protection of biodiversity. The Communication of November 2007 is designed to kick off a wide-ranging six-month consultation. In the spring of 2008, the Commission will return with legislative proposals, which it hopes will be adopted by agriculture ministers by the end of 2008 and could come into effect immediately. During 2007 and 2008 the Commission will develop its approach to the budgetary review 2008/2009. The Health Check constitutes a preparatory action within this framework, without prejudging the outcome of this review. It fine-tunes the 2003 reforms and contributes to the discussion on future priorities in the field of agriculture. On the 20 May 2008 the European Commission proposed to further modernise, simplify and streamline the Common Agricultural Policy and remove remaining restrictions on farmers to help them respond to growing demand for food. The so-called CAP Health Check will further break the link between direct payments and production and thus allow farmers to follow market signals to the greatest possible extent. |
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| Source Link | http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/healthcheck/index_en.htm |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
