BETA


2017/2088(INI) Implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AGRI CAPUTO Nicola (icon: S&D S&D) MELO Nuno (icon: PPE PPE), KUŹMIUK Zbigniew (icon: ECR ECR), HUITEMA Jan (icon: ALDE ALDE), HEUBUCH Maria (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), ZULLO Marco (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion ENVI MCGUINNESS Mairead (icon: PPE PPE) Jørn DOHRMANN (icon: ECR ECR), Elena GENTILE (icon: S&D S&D), Sylvie GODDYN (icon: ENF ENF)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2018/11/16
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2018/05/29
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2018/05/29
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 472 votes to 34, with 136 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform.

Young farmers are the key to a sustainable, diversified and inclusive agricultural sector and promoting their access to farming will help safeguard future food production and protect the environment and rural landscapes. However, in the EU only about 6 % of all people in charge of farms are younger than 35 years old and more than half are aged over 55. Disparities between Member States are wide.

In the 2007-2013 period, the number of young farmers in the EU as a whole decreased from 3.3 to 2.3 million, and the area of farms cultivated by young farmers decreased during that period from 57 to 53 million hectares.

Although the most recent reform of the CAP introduced a series of tools which can be combined and adapted to national circumstances in the Member States, not all of them have a genuine policy relating to setting up in agriculture or use all the instruments that the CAP offers to support young farmers.

Young farmers and new entrants represent important sources of innovation and entrepreneurship within agriculture, bringing benefits such as the introduction of new knowledge or techniques, the development of new business models based on end-users, the development of more sustainable farming systems, the development of new organisational models (e.g. share farming, pre-financing, crowdsourcing), the increase of connections between farming and the local community, and the adaptation of traditional knowledge to develop business innovations (e.g. artisanal food production).

In the light of these changes, it is essential to create opportunities for agriculture as a modern and attractive industry to encourage young people to pursue careers in farming.

Parliament made the following recommendations:

Budget and access to finance : it advocated maintaining a strong common agricultural policy with a view to the forthcoming reform, given that this would constitute the most attractive incentive for young people wishing to engage in an agricultural activity.

Members requested that the support to the ‘ Young Farmer Scheme ’ should continue by increasing the maximum level of national funding allocation beyond 2 % for compulsory payments (under the first pillar) and by increasing the support rate under the second pillar in order to encourage generational renewal. The resolution recalled that, under Regulation (EU) 2017/2393 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), Member States have the possibility of increasing the allocation to young farmers under the first pillar by up to 50 % of the existing thresholds (previously 25 %). Parliament recommended that the period in which a farm can benefit from this support be extended in order to encourage generational renewal.

The resolution highlighted that the reinforcement of a start-up aid measure for young farmers (young farmer grants) should be considered in any future CAP.

While welcoming the creation of an agricultural guarantee instrument, proposed by the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in March 2015, which should make it easier for young farmers to access credit, Members recommended that access to finance be improved through subsidised interest rates on loans for new entrants, also from private financial operators, in particular by implementing financial instruments to disburse interest-free loans for the investments of young farmers. They called for improved cooperation with the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to foster the creation of financial instruments dedicated to young farmers across all Member States.

Simplified administration : Parliament welcomed the fact that common agricultural policy (CAP) reform 2014-2020 introduced new measures to support young farmers in setting up farms. However, it expressed concern that the level of administrative burdens often inhibits the take-up of these measures. The overall administration of the direct payments and Rural Development Programme measures is perceived as very complex and difficult, especially for new entrants who are not familiar with the payment system. Greater effort to simplify procedures and reduce the time required for payment approval should be made. Members expressed disappointment at the lack of coordination between payments for young farmers and the set-up support measure, which are managed by different authorities.

The Commission is called on to develop a more holistic approach enabling greater synergies between pillar I (direct payments) and pillar II (rural development).

Parliament called on the Member States to make the necessary regulatory changes to ensure that aid to help young people join the farming sector and to improve agricultural holdings for young people is classed as a capital grant and not a current subsidy in all national legislation.

Access to land : the resolution noted that access to land is one of the main barriers to young farmers and new entrants to farming in the EU which is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which may lead to higher land rental costs and purchase prices. The Commission is called on to establish recommendations at European Union level to encourage more active national policies on access to land based on best practices.

As for the Member States, they should give new entrants and young farmers priority in the access to farmland. They should also encourage farm management advisory services to support and facilitate land mobility and succession planning services .

Documents
2018/05/29
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2018/05/28
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2018/05/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the own-initiative report by Nicola CAPUTO (S&D, IT) on the implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform.

Young farmers are the key to a sustainable, diversified and inclusive agricultural sector and promoting their access to farming will help safeguard future food production and protect the environment and rural landscapes. However, in the EU only about 6 % of all people in charge of farms are younger than 35 years old and more than half are aged over 55. Disparities between Member States are wide.

In the 2007-2013 period, the number of young farmers in the EU as a whole decreased from 3.3 to 2.3 million, and the area of farms cultivated by young farmers decreased during that period from 57 to 53 million hectares.

Although the most recent reform of the CAP introduced a series of tools which can be combined and adapted to national circumstances in the Member States, not all of them have a genuine policy relating to setting up in agriculture or use all the instruments that the CAP offers to support young farmers.

In the light of these changes, it is essential to create opportunities for agriculture as a modern and attractive industry to encourage young people to pursue careers in farming.

Members made the following recommendations:

Budget and access to finance : they advocated maintaining a strong common agricultural policy with a view to the forthcoming reform, given that this would constitute the most attractive incentive for young people wishing to engage in an agricultural activity.

They requested that the support to the ‘ Young Farmer Scheme ’ should continue by increasing the maximum level of national funding allocation beyond 2 % for compulsory payments (under the first pillar) and by increasing the support rate under the second pillar in order to encourage generational renewal.

The report highlighted that the reinforcement of a start-up aid measure for young farmers (young farmer grants) should be considered in any future CAP.

While welcoming the creation of an agricultural guarantee instrument, proposed by the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in March 2015, which should make it easier for young farmers to access credit, Members recommended that access to finance be improved through subsidised interest rates on loans for new entrants, also from private financial operators, in particular by implementing financial instruments to disburse interest-free loans for the investments of young farmers. They called for improved cooperation with the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to foster the creation of financial instruments dedicated to young farmers across all Member States.

Simplified administration : Members welcomed the fact that common agricultural policy (CAP) reform 2014-2020 introduced new measures to support young farmers in setting up farms. However, they expressed concern that the level of administrative burdens often inhibits the take-up of these measures. The overall administration of the direct payments and Rural Development Programme measures is perceived as very complex and difficult, especially for new entrants who are not familiar with the payment system. Greater effort to simplify procedures and reduce the time required for payment approval should be made.

They called on the Commission to develop a more holistic approach enabling greater synergies between pillar I (direct payments) and pillar II (rural development).

Access to land : the report noted that access to land is one of the main barriers to young farmers and new entrants to farming in the EU which is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which may lead to higher land rental costs and purchase prices. The Commission is called on to establish recommendations at European Union level to encourage more active national policies on access to land based on best practices.

As for the Member States, they should give new entrants and young farmers priority in the access to farmland. They should also encourage farm management advisory services to support and facilitate land mobility and succession planning services .

Documents
2018/04/24
   EP - Vote in committee
2018/03/22
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/01/26
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2017/12/07
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2017/06/15
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2017/06/15
   EP - MCGUINNESS Mairead (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in ENVI
2016/03/15
   EP - CAPUTO Nicola (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in AGRI

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0157/2018 - Nicola Caputo - vote unique 29/05/2018 12:38:06.000 #

2018/05/29 Outcome: +: 472, 0: 136, -: 34
DE IT FR PL ES BG BE PT HU AT CZ HR SK LT RO FI EL IE GB NL LV LU MT EE SI DK CY ?? SE
Total
83
62
66
44
44
16
18
20
16
17
17
11
11
10
28
11
15
8
62
23
7
5
5
4
5
7
5
1
19
icon: PPE PPE
187

Ireland PPE

3

United Kingdom PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1

Sweden PPE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

4
icon: S&D S&D
157

Belgium S&D

2

Croatia S&D

2

Finland S&D

1

Greece S&D

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Netherlands S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Denmark S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
57
3

Portugal ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Romania ALDE

Against (1)

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
62

Italy ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

3

Lithuania ECR

1

Romania ECR

1
2

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Denmark ECR

2
icon: ENF ENF
29

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

For (1)

1
3

Netherlands ENF

3
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
46

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
18

Germany NI

2

France NI

2

Poland NI

Abstain (1)

2

Hungary NI

2

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

4

NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
37

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

Italy Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Croatia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
394 2017/2088(INI)
2018/01/26 AGRI 312 amendments...
source: 616.744
2018/02/01 ENVI 82 amendments...
source: 618.016

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2018-01-26T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE616.744 title: PE616.744 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2018-03-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE615.402&secondRef=02 title: PE615.402 committee: ENVI type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2018-11-16T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=31088&j=0&l=en title: SP(2018)515 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
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  • date: 2017-06-15T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-04-24T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-05-02T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0157&language=EN title: A8-0157/2018 summary: The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the own-initiative report by Nicola CAPUTO (S&D, IT) on the implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform. Young farmers are the key to a sustainable, diversified and inclusive agricultural sector and promoting their access to farming will help safeguard future food production and protect the environment and rural landscapes. However, in the EU only about 6 % of all people in charge of farms are younger than 35 years old and more than half are aged over 55. Disparities between Member States are wide. In the 2007-2013 period, the number of young farmers in the EU as a whole decreased from 3.3 to 2.3 million, and the area of farms cultivated by young farmers decreased during that period from 57 to 53 million hectares. Although the most recent reform of the CAP introduced a series of tools which can be combined and adapted to national circumstances in the Member States, not all of them have a genuine policy relating to setting up in agriculture or use all the instruments that the CAP offers to support young farmers. In the light of these changes, it is essential to create opportunities for agriculture as a modern and attractive industry to encourage young people to pursue careers in farming. Members made the following recommendations: Budget and access to finance : they advocated maintaining a strong common agricultural policy with a view to the forthcoming reform, given that this would constitute the most attractive incentive for young people wishing to engage in an agricultural activity. They requested that the support to the ‘ Young Farmer Scheme ’ should continue by increasing the maximum level of national funding allocation beyond 2 % for compulsory payments (under the first pillar) and by increasing the support rate under the second pillar in order to encourage generational renewal. The report highlighted that the reinforcement of a start-up aid measure for young farmers (young farmer grants) should be considered in any future CAP. While welcoming the creation of an agricultural guarantee instrument, proposed by the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in March 2015, which should make it easier for young farmers to access credit, Members recommended that access to finance be improved through subsidised interest rates on loans for new entrants, also from private financial operators, in particular by implementing financial instruments to disburse interest-free loans for the investments of young farmers. They called for improved cooperation with the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to foster the creation of financial instruments dedicated to young farmers across all Member States. Simplified administration : Members welcomed the fact that common agricultural policy (CAP) reform 2014-2020 introduced new measures to support young farmers in setting up farms. However, they expressed concern that the level of administrative burdens often inhibits the take-up of these measures. The overall administration of the direct payments and Rural Development Programme measures is perceived as very complex and difficult, especially for new entrants who are not familiar with the payment system. Greater effort to simplify procedures and reduce the time required for payment approval should be made. They called on the Commission to develop a more holistic approach enabling greater synergies between pillar I (direct payments) and pillar II (rural development). Access to land : the report noted that access to land is one of the main barriers to young farmers and new entrants to farming in the EU which is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which may lead to higher land rental costs and purchase prices. The Commission is called on to establish recommendations at European Union level to encourage more active national policies on access to land based on best practices. As for the Member States, they should give new entrants and young farmers priority in the access to farmland. They should also encourage farm management advisory services to support and facilitate land mobility and succession planning services .
  • date: 2018-05-28T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20180528&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2018-05-29T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=31088&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2018-05-29T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2018-0211 title: T8-0211/2018 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 472 votes to 34, with 136 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform. Young farmers are the key to a sustainable, diversified and inclusive agricultural sector and promoting their access to farming will help safeguard future food production and protect the environment and rural landscapes. However, in the EU only about 6 % of all people in charge of farms are younger than 35 years old and more than half are aged over 55. Disparities between Member States are wide. In the 2007-2013 period, the number of young farmers in the EU as a whole decreased from 3.3 to 2.3 million, and the area of farms cultivated by young farmers decreased during that period from 57 to 53 million hectares. Although the most recent reform of the CAP introduced a series of tools which can be combined and adapted to national circumstances in the Member States, not all of them have a genuine policy relating to setting up in agriculture or use all the instruments that the CAP offers to support young farmers. Young farmers and new entrants represent important sources of innovation and entrepreneurship within agriculture, bringing benefits such as the introduction of new knowledge or techniques, the development of new business models based on end-users, the development of more sustainable farming systems, the development of new organisational models (e.g. share farming, pre-financing, crowdsourcing), the increase of connections between farming and the local community, and the adaptation of traditional knowledge to develop business innovations (e.g. artisanal food production). In the light of these changes, it is essential to create opportunities for agriculture as a modern and attractive industry to encourage young people to pursue careers in farming. Parliament made the following recommendations: Budget and access to finance : it advocated maintaining a strong common agricultural policy with a view to the forthcoming reform, given that this would constitute the most attractive incentive for young people wishing to engage in an agricultural activity. Members requested that the support to the ‘ Young Farmer Scheme ’ should continue by increasing the maximum level of national funding allocation beyond 2 % for compulsory payments (under the first pillar) and by increasing the support rate under the second pillar in order to encourage generational renewal. The resolution recalled that, under Regulation (EU) 2017/2393 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), Member States have the possibility of increasing the allocation to young farmers under the first pillar by up to 50 % of the existing thresholds (previously 25 %). Parliament recommended that the period in which a farm can benefit from this support be extended in order to encourage generational renewal. The resolution highlighted that the reinforcement of a start-up aid measure for young farmers (young farmer grants) should be considered in any future CAP. While welcoming the creation of an agricultural guarantee instrument, proposed by the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in March 2015, which should make it easier for young farmers to access credit, Members recommended that access to finance be improved through subsidised interest rates on loans for new entrants, also from private financial operators, in particular by implementing financial instruments to disburse interest-free loans for the investments of young farmers. They called for improved cooperation with the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to foster the creation of financial instruments dedicated to young farmers across all Member States. Simplified administration : Parliament welcomed the fact that common agricultural policy (CAP) reform 2014-2020 introduced new measures to support young farmers in setting up farms. However, it expressed concern that the level of administrative burdens often inhibits the take-up of these measures. The overall administration of the direct payments and Rural Development Programme measures is perceived as very complex and difficult, especially for new entrants who are not familiar with the payment system. Greater effort to simplify procedures and reduce the time required for payment approval should be made. Members expressed disappointment at the lack of coordination between payments for young farmers and the set-up support measure, which are managed by different authorities. The Commission is called on to develop a more holistic approach enabling greater synergies between pillar I (direct payments) and pillar II (rural development). Parliament called on the Member States to make the necessary regulatory changes to ensure that aid to help young people join the farming sector and to improve agricultural holdings for young people is classed as a capital grant and not a current subsidy in all national legislation. Access to land : the resolution noted that access to land is one of the main barriers to young farmers and new entrants to farming in the EU which is exacerbated by the current direct payment structure, which may lead to higher land rental costs and purchase prices. The Commission is called on to establish recommendations at European Union level to encourage more active national policies on access to land based on best practices. As for the Member States, they should give new entrants and young farmers priority in the access to farmland. They should also encourage farm management advisory services to support and facilitate land mobility and succession planning services .
  • date: 2018-05-29T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/agriculture-and-rural-development_en title: Agriculture and Rural Development commissioner: HOGAN Phil
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
AGRI/8/10157
New
  • AGRI/8/10157
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 52
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.10.01 Agricultural structures and holdings, farmers
  • 3.10.14 Support for producers and premiums
New
3.10.01
Agricultural structures and holdings, farmers
3.10.14
Support for producers and premiums
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Procedure completed
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EC
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HOGAN Phil
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    • body: EP shadows: group: GUE/NGL name: FLANAGAN Luke Ming group: Verts/ALE name: HEUBUCH Maria responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2016-03-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: CAPUTO Nicola
    • body: EP responsible: False committee: ENVI date: 2017-06-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: EPP name: MCGUINNESS Mairead
    links
    other
      procedure
      reference
      2017/2088(INI)
      title
      Implementation of CAP young farmers’ tools in the EU after the 2013 reform
      legal_basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
      stage_reached
      Preparatory phase in Parliament
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      Implementation
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