GAC needs to take responsibility for environmental spending

Posted on October, 16 2012

 Luxembourg (16th October). Earlier today the General Affairs Council (GAC) met to discuss the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 (MFF), or EU Budget. Leaders failed to address the most contentious issues facing the EU Budget and its effects on the environment.
 
So far Ministers sitting on the GAC have been unwilling to make key decisions affecting other policy areas, like the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
 
Quote: Sébastien Godinot, Economist with the WWF European Policy Office
 
“Ministers at the General Affairs Council can’t just keep kicking contentious issues like CAP down the road and hope that the will be resolved when Heads of State meet on the 22nd-23rd of November. We need action now and serious discussions to take place between with the General Affairs Committee and the European Parliament on issues like the proposed Climate action spending of 20% over the next EU budget, real support for greening of the CAP, as well as half of CAP funding going to rural development.” 
 
“If the CAP “Greening” is left solely in the hands of the Agriculture Council and European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee, any meaningful environmental conditionality will be dead in the water. As it is in charge of the budget and expenditure, the General Affairs Council has a duty to oversee that money is spent in the best possible way and this includes greening. Declarations made by some MEPs who sit on the Agricultural committee and say that there will be no greening if the budget is cut, are out of order. The days of the Commission issuing blank cheques on the CAP have to come to an end.”
 
 
 
WWF Position
 
WWF knows that getting the next seven year MFF right this year is essential if we are to tackle issues like climate change and loss of biodiversity within the necessary time frames.
 
Our key demands on the MFF include;
Climate Action: That 25% of MFF expenditure goes towards climate action and the commitment is included in the Negotiating Box (in its Article 9).
Common Agricultural Policy: Half of all CAP funds for rural development (€150 billion at least) and 30% of direct payments (pillar one) are based on a meaningful ‘greening’.
A modest 1% of the next MFF should be dedicated for LIFE, the only EU programme solely dedicated to nature and climate. 
External dimension: maintain the Commission’s proposed allocation as a minimum.
 
Luxembourg (16th October). Earlier today the General Affairs Council (GAC) met to discuss the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 (MFF), or EU Budget. Leaders failed to address the most contentious issues facing the EU Budget and its effects on the environment.
 
So far Ministers sitting on the GAC have been unwilling to make key decisions affecting other policy areas, like the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
 
Quote: Sébastien Godinot, Economist with the WWF European Policy Office
 
“Ministers at the General Affairs Council can’t just keep kicking contentious issues like CAP down the road and hope that the will be resolved when Heads of State meet on the 22nd-23rd of November. We need action now and serious discussions to take place between with the General Affairs Committee and the European Parliament on issues like the proposed Climate action spending of 20% over the next EU budget, real support for greening of the CAP, as well as half of CAP funding going to rural development.” 
 
“If the CAP “Greening” is left solely in the hands of the Agriculture Council and European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee, any meaningful environmental conditionality will be dead in the water. As it is in charge of the budget and expenditure, the General Affairs Council has a duty to oversee that money is spent in the best possible way and this includes greening. Declarations made by some MEPs who sit on the Agricultural committee and say that there will be no greening if the budget is cut, are out of order. The days of the Commission issuing blank cheques on the CAP have to come to an end.” 
 
WWF Position
WWF knows that getting the next seven year MFF right this year is essential if we are to tackle issues like climate change and loss of biodiversity within the necessary time frames.
 
Our key demands on the MFF include;
Climate Action: That 25% of MFF expenditure goes towards climate action and the commitment is included in the Negotiating Box (in its Article 9).
Common Agricultural Policy: Half of all CAP funds for rural development (€150 billion at least) and 30% of direct payments (pillar one) are based on a meaningful ‘greening’.
A modest 1% of the next MFF should be dedicated for LIFE, the only EU programme solely dedicated to nature and climate. 
External dimension: maintain the Commission’s proposed allocation as a minimum.
 

Source of the article

The Council of the European Union
© WWF / The Council of the European Union