CAP leak confirms threat to environmental farming

European countries will be free to slash spending on environmental stewardship, according to a leaked report.

The RSPB has reacted with concern to proposals laid out in a draft section of the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy reforms which could lead to cuts in agri environment schemes across Europe.

A leak of the draft regulation on Rural Development (Pillar 2) shows there are plans to remove the rule setting out the minimum amount countries must spend on environmental schemes. The regulation paves the way for Pillar 2 money to be spent on Innovation, Risk Management and Competitiveness instead.

This leak comes a month after the EU budget proposals, which saw environmental organisations and farmers join forces to defend the Rural Development budget from swingeing cuts.   Although this threat was successfully seen off, the attack on green farming continues.

Martin Harper, RSPB conservation director, said: The proposals in the leaked Rural Development regulation threaten to undermine farmers across Europe who care for wildlife and are working hard to step up for nature.

It is vital that Pillar 2 is used to support real environmental delivery.  Public money must do what market forces cannot: support farmers in providing a healthy environment for everyones benefit. Agri environment schemes represent genuine value for money for the taxpayers who fund them.

Of course innovation and competitiveness are vital for the future of farming if they are pursued without damaging wildlife and countryside habitats. But to slice up environmental payments in order to pay for it is just not acceptable.  

There may be a role for increasing the environmental benefits from Pillar 1 payments, but this must be in addition to well designed and targeted agri-environment schemes it can never be a substitute.

Current rules stipulate that at least 25 per cent of Pillar 2 money in each EU country must be spent on environmental measures, including agri environment schemes. The draft proposals would remove that rule, allowing countries to cut their environmental budgets in favour of other objectives. 

The total cut to the CAP of 8 per cent which is currently on the table will already see less money available for Pillar 2 environmental payments such as Englands Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship schemes.

These schemes are vital for the future health of species such as skylark, yellowhammer, grey partridge and lapwing which have fallen by half since 1970.