MEP wins vote for a simpler CAP

The measure is being pushed by Richard Ashworth, Conservative agriculture spokesman in the European Parliament, in an attempt to simplify the CAP.

His CAP simplification report, which also seeks to ensure penalties are in proportion to the scale of the infringement and to harmonise inspection standards across the EU, was voted through by MEPs in Strasbourg yesterday (Tuesday, May 18).

Mr Ashworth said the report would instil a ‘lighter touch’ to make the CAP ‘simpler, fairer and more transparent’.

The removal of regular and costly inspections would be one vast area of improvement, he said.

“There is nothing to stop a farmer going round his own farm with his own clipboard giving himself the appropriate ticks – ‘have I done this, have I done that?’

“There would be spot check inspections to make sure farmers had complied but in a grown-up world farmers should be allowed to self-certify.

“It goes on in many other industries and there is no reason why it shouldn’t in agriculture,” he said.

Mr Ashworth’s report, which will help European Commission officials shape the future CAP, introduces further measures to give farmers the benefit of doubt over first transgressions. 

“Where there is clearly no intent to defraud the EU, officials should note the incident but move on.

“If there is a repetition, then they can take action,” said Mr Ashworth.

Alyn Smith, a Scottish MEP, successfully added an amendment into the Ashworth report to provide for a three year amnesty from cross compliance penalties for sheep EID.

“EID cross-compliance penalties are coming down the track at us and with the technology as yet relatively untested,” said Mr Smith.

“It is very good news that we have the full Parliamentary backing for my stance on a three year amnesty for all penalties,” he added after the vote.

The Ashworth report, with full parliamentary backing, will now be passed to the European Commission as they decide exactly how the CAP will operate after 2013.

Andrea Mott caught up with Richard Ashworth after the vote in Strasbourg and asked him how he would simplify the CAP:

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