Press Release: Common agricultural policy: the reform is approved by the Council

On 16 December 2013, at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting that took place in Brussels on 16-17th December 2013, the Council adopted the common agriculture policy (CAP) reform package following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament.

This reform sets out the new rules for the CAP in the next seven-year period, in order to equip the European agricultural sector for the opportunities and challenges of the future. The main objectives of the reform are to make the CAP greener and better targeted, with a more equitable distribution of income support to farmers across the Union and a more effective rural development policy.

On 17 December 2013, the President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council ratified the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package and the transitional CAP measures for 2014 in presence of the ministers from Denmark, Cyprus and Ireland and the vice-minister from Poland.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Parliament backs farm policy reforms http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-commissioner-dacian-ciolos-welcomes-european-parliament-vote-of-the-reform-of-the-common-agricultural-policy-parliament-backs-farm-policy-reforms/

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/1157: Commissioner Cioloş welcomes Council adoption of CAP Reform http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1157_en.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/13/592: CAP reform: signature of the documents http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/140127.pdf

EurActiv, 16.12.13: EU ministers give farm policy final political seal http://www.euractiv.com/cap/eu-ministers-give-farm-policy-fi-news-532383

---