The European Parliament (EP) on 15 June adopted within its Agricultural Committee a report on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013. The Committee requests to maintain the funding of CAP at least on the existing level. It also states that there should not be a renationalization of the agricultural policy.

Food security, the fight against climate change, renewable energy, water management and biodiversity are mentioned as important services for farmers. For meeting high standards in these areas farmers should be rewarded, eg by linking the direct payments to this. Imports from third countries are supposed to meet the same criteria.

The price volatility as a reaction to the market price approach shall be compensated by a bouquet of instruments like safety net mechanisms, public and private storage or intervention. A futures market and harvest risk insurance are also mentioned.

The UK Liberal George Lyon, author of the report, explained the main content personally to the CEMA Board on the day after the approval when CEMA visited the European Parliament. The full report, which will be put to the vote in the EP plenary meeting can be accessed on the EP website.