Activities of Miguel VIEGAS related to 2015/2353(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Preparation of the post-electoral revision of the MFF 2014-2020: Parliament's input ahead of the Commission's proposal (A8-0224/2016 - Jan Olbrycht, Isabelle Thomas) PT
Preparation of the post-electoral revision of the MFF 2014-2020: Parliament's input ahead of the Commission's proposal (debate) PT
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the preparation of the post-electoral revision of the MFF 2014-2020 – Parliament’s input ahead of the Commission’s proposal
Amendments (9)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the EU’s most genuinely common policy, which means that agricultural spending accounts for a considerable percentage of the total EU budget; stresses that spending on agriculture has declined considerably in relative terms over the last three decades from 75% to the current 38%, in line with successive market-oriented reforms of the CAP; stresses, therefore, that each EU citizen contributes only 32 cents per day to the CAP and that this policy has a low error rate in terms of spending irregularities;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the CAP provides income support to farmers through Pillar 1 and provides support for environmental programmes and economic activity in rural areas and prevents rural depopulation; notes, in this connection, that it is essential to maintain the two-pillar CAP structure in order to compensate and support farmers and rural areas; stresses the need to reverse the long-term trend observed in recent decades of falling farmer incomes;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. States clearly that, through numerous policy reforms, CAP spending has been reduced and has become more targeted, market-orientated and geared towards improving the competitiveness of EU agriculture, while at the same time addressing an ever-increasing range of challenges, including environmental issues and climate change, the introduction of ‘greening measures’ and ensuring the economic viability of rural areas; asserts that the effect of those reforms has been disastrous for European agriculture and has caused tens of thousands of farms to go out of business;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists that the current amount in Heading 2, as provided for in the current MFF, must remain at least at the same levelbe increased, commensurate with the current crisis; refers, in this connection, to Article 2 of the MFF Regulation, which clearly states that allocated national envelopes may not be reduced by the midterm revision; considers, furthermore, that other Union policies must have the necessary financial means to allow the Union to honour its legal obligations in accordance with the corresponding sectoral legislation;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the price volatility experienced because of the liberalisation of the CAP and linked to worsening market conditions in many agricultural sectors has significantly increased in recent years, leading to severe income volatility; stresses, therefore, the need to ensure that sufficient budgetary resources are available to deal with market crises, such as those currently affecting the milk, pig meat and fruit and vegetable sectors; adds in this regard that, owing to the CAP budget cuts made during the last MFF negotiations, direct payments from the first pillar of the CAP are currently insufficient to mitigate the income volatility experienced by farmers;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that price volatility is increasing and that it is therefore erroneous to believe that farm subsidies are no longer needed; strongly disagrees, in this context, with the notion that a rise in food prices and sales of produce in recent years have provided farmers with a stable income allowing business planning or security; stresses the need for supply regulation instruments to be put in place, as they are the only effective means of stabilising prices and farmers’ incomes;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out that the objectives of the CAP remain unchanged under the Lisbon Treaty, namely increasing agricultural productivity, ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, stabilising markets, ensuring the availability of supplies and ensuring that supplies reach consumers at reasonable prices; notes, however, that the successive reforms of the CAP have assigned new tasks to agriculture in terms of product quality, environmental protection, climate change, consumer health, land use issues and modes of production and productivity; stresses that the objectives laid down as part of the EU’s sustainability strategy must also be taken into account in the EU’s agricultural policy, with regard, in particular, to social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is convinced that a strong CAP for the EU, both in terms of content and financing, is paramount in achieving these objectives, while guaranteeing a level playing field and transparent food chains within the internal market, which would guarantee producers fair prices, as well as viable rural areas; considers, furthermore, that increasing resilience and improving employment and quality of life in rural areas should be prioritised in order to combat rural depopulation;
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Strongly opposes any renationalisation of agricultural policies; stresses that the common nature of the EU’s agricultural policy avoids distortion of competition within the internal market and generates savings for European taxpayers; highlights, however, the need to safeguard each Member State’s right to guarantee a minimum level of food sovereignty; affirms that a well-functioning and well- financed second pillar is essential for the success of the CAP and for the economic well-being of the Union’s rural areas;