A coalition of leading environmental groups today (Monday 10 March) set out their radical proposals for the transformation of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link) [1] will today launch, Beyond the Pillars at a reception in Parliament. Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, will respond with the Government’s view on the future for the CAP.

Beyond the Pillars envisages a revolutionary shift of purpose for the CAP budget [2].

Link proposes replacing the CAP with a single European Sustainable Land Management Policy. Existing farm support payments would be phased out and replaced with support for positive land management. Refocusing support on environmental objectives could help underpin profitable farm businesses and prosperous rural communities.

Link fears that unless the CAP is transformed, money for farmers and land managers to enhance our landscapes, wildlife, woodlands and historic environment will dry up. Despite a shift away from supporting ‘production at any cost’, farmers who want to look after wildlife and the environment are not given sufficient financial incentives. Some of the money that could have been used to put life back into the countryside is being spent on space exploration [3]. Under-spend on this year’s CAP budget has already been redirected away from farming and the environment to the Galileo space programme.

Link seeks a radical re-orientation of European land management away from the previous confusing concept of financial support for different purposes to a unified approach that will:

• protect and restore our wildlife and habitats;
• protect and enhance our historic environment, landscapes and woodlands;
• ensure the sustainable use of our limited water and soil resources;
• help mitigate and adapt to the challenges arising from climate change; and,
• ensure the secure and sustainable production of animal welfare friendly food and other commodities.

Link’s Farming and Rural Development Group chair, Ian Woodhurst said:

‘We need to find a new way of paying for the management of our environment which ensures secure supplies of food as well as a beautiful countryside, rich in wildlife and our historic assets for the public to enjoy. Yet we find there just isn’t enough money to reward farmers for the countryside management they undertake. Producing food and looking after our environment should be one and the same thing.’

Ian continued:

‘Further big changes to the CAP are imminent, along with a review of the EU’s budget. Climate change and globalisation mean that land managers should now be given realistic incentives to continue to deliver and manage our environmental assets. Policy and funding should be dedicated to managing the countryside for a wide range of public benefits. We urge the Government to work with us to make this a reality.’

Gareth Morgan Link’s Farming and Rural Development Group vice chair, said:

‘For too long the debate has been “Scrap the CAP” versus “Save the CAP”. At a time when global food production is back in the headlines, this alternative vision from Wildlife and Countryside Link could not be more timely.’

Ends

Notes to editors

[1] Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link) brings together voluntary organisations concerned with the conservation, enjoyment and protection of wildlife, countryside and the marine environment. Our members practice and advocate environmentally sensitive land management and food production practices and encourage respect for and enjoyment of natural landscapes and features, the historic environment and biodiversity. Taken together, our members have the support of over eight million people in the UK and manage over 476,000 hectares of land. Please visit www.wcl.org.uk for further information.

[2] The Common Agricultural Policy is divided into two pillars. These are effectively two different funding streams. The ‘first pillar’ is made up of direct payments to farmers, which in the UK is known as the Single Payment. Farmers who receive the Single Payment must ensure they adhere to a set of EU Directives and other legislation and environmental management requirements known as cross compliance. The ‘second pillar’ is made up of funding for rural development measures, known in England as the Rural Development Programme for England. It includes green farming schemes and funding for economic and social measures that contribute to rural development objectives. As well as the RDPE having some core funding money is also transferred, or in technical terms ‘modulated,’ from Pillar I of the CAP to Pillar II for rural development measures. The amount of money transferred is set by the EU at a certain percentage. The UK Government voluntarily transfers extra funding from Pillar I to Pillar II to fund rural development measures including important green farming schemes. Please visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/singlepay/index.htm for further information on the Single Payment Scheme.

[3] In September the European Commission proposed transferring some Common Agricultural Policy funds to the European Galileo Space Programme which is facing a £1.7bn funding shortfall in funding. For further information please visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-170592 and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7087941.stm