45 Amendments of Brian SIMPSON related to 2011/0280(COD)
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The implementation of this regulation should be consistent with the development cooperation objectives of the Union's Policy Framework for Food Security (COM (2010) 127) with specific regards to ensure that the deployment of CAP measures do not jeopardize the food production capacity and long term food security developing countries and the ability of those populations to feed themselves, while complying with the obligation of Policy Coherence for Development under Article 208 of the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation and to avoid unfair competition or discrimination between farmers, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission in respect of: the fixation of the annual national ceiling for the basic payment scheme; the adoption of rules on applications for allocation of payment entitlements; the adoption of measures regarding the reversion of non- activated payment entitlements to the national reserve; the adoption of requirements related to the notification of transfer of payment entitlements to the national authorities and the deadlines within which such notification are to take place; the setting out of the annual ceiling for the payment for agricultural practises beneficial for the climate and the environment; the setting out of the annual ceiling for the payment for areas with natural constraints; the setting out of the annual ceiling for the payment for young farmers; the setting out of the annual ceilings for the voluntary coupled support; the adoption of rules on the procedure for the assessment and approval of decisions in the framework of the voluntary coupled support; the adoption of rules on the procedure of the authorisation and the notifications to the producers related to the authorisation of land and varieties for the purposes of the crop specific payment for cotton; the provision for rules on the calculation of the reduction of the amount of the crop specific payment for cotton; the adoption of rules concerning general notification requirements. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The experience gained with the application of the single payment scheme shows that some of its main elements should be kept, including the determination of national ceilings to ensure that the total level of support does not exceed current budgetary constraints. Member States should also continue to operate a national reserve that shouldmay be used to facilitate the participation of young new farmers in the scheme or may be used to take account of specific needs in certain regions. Rules on the transfer and use of payment entitlements should be kept but, where possible, simplified.
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) One of the objectives of the new CAP is the enhancement of environmental performance through a mandatory ‘greening’ component of direct payments which will support agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment applicable throughout the Union. For that purpose, Member States should use part of their national ceilings for direct payments to grant an annual payment, on top ofstrictly linked with the basic payment, for compulsory practices to be followed by farmers addressing, as a priority, both climate and environment policy goals. Those practises should take the form of simple, generalised, and non- contractual and annual actions that go beyond cross- compliance and are linked to agriculture such as crop diversificrotation, maintenance of permanent grassland and ecological focus areas. The compulsory nature of those practises should also concern farmers whose holdings are fully or partly situated in ‘Natura 2000’ areas covered by Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and by Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, as long as these practises are compatible with the objectives of those Directives. Farmers who fulfil the conditions laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 should benefit from the ‘greening’ component without fulfilling any further obligation, given the recognised environmental benefits of the organic farming systems. Non-respect of the ‘greening’ component should lead to penalties on the basis of Article 65 of Regulation (EU) No […] [HZR].
Amendment 252 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) In order to ensure that the obligations referred to the crop diversificrotation measure are applied in a proportionate and non- discriminatory way and lead to an enhanced environmental protection, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission for the purpose of the adoption of the definition of ‘crop’ and of rules concerning the application of the measure.
Amendment 272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) The creation and development of new economic activity in the agricultural sector by young farmers is financially challenging and constitutes an element that shouldmay be considered in the allocation and targeting of direct payments. This development is essential for the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the Union and, for that reason, an income support to young farmers commencing their agricultural activities shouldmay be established in order to facilitate the initial establishment of young farmers and the structural adjustment of their holdings after the initial setting up. Member States should be ablellowed to use part of their national ceilings for direct payments to grant an annual area-based payment, on top of the basic payment, to young farmers. That payment should only be granted during a period of maximum five years, since it should only cover the initial period of the life of the business and should not become an operating aid.
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) Member States should be allowed to use part of their national ceilings for direct payments for coupled support in certain sectors in clearly defined cases. The resources that may be used for any coupled support should be limited to an appropriate level, while allowing such support to be granted in Member States or in their specific regions facing particular situations where specific typeThe decoupling of direct support and the introduction of the single payment scheme were essential elements in the process of fareforming or specific agricultural sectors are particularly important for economic, environmental and/or social reasons. Member States should be allowed to use up to 5 % of their national ceilings for this support, or 10 % in case their level of coupled support in at least one of the years of the period 2010-2013 exceeded 5 %. However, in duly justified cases where certain sensitive needs in a region are demonstrated, and upon approval by the Commission, Member States should be allowed to use more than 10 % of their national ceiling. Coupled support should only be granted to the extent necessary to create an incentive to maintain current levels of production in those regions. This support should also be available to farmers holding, on 31 December 2013, special payment entitlements allocated under Regulation (EC) No 1782/200the CAP. Experience gained through the application of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 together with the evolution of the market situation indicates that schemes that were kept outside the single payment scheme in 2013 cand Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and who do not have eligible hectares for the activation of payment entitlements. As regards the approval of voluntary coupled support exceeding 10 % of the annual national ceiling fixed per Member State, the Commission should further be empowered to adopt implementing acts without applying Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 now be integrated into the basic payment scheme to promote more market- oriented and sustainable agriculture.
Amendment 293 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
Amendment 300 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) AMember States should be allowed to use part of their national direct payments ceiling to put in place a simple and specific scheme for small farmers should be put in place in order to reduce the administrative costs linked to the management and control of direct support. For that purpose, a lump- sum payment replacing all direct payments should be established. Rules seeking simplification of formalities should be introduced by reducing, amongst others, the obligations imposed on small farmers such as those related to the application for support, to agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment, to cross-compliance and to controls as laid down in Regulation (EU) No […...] [HZR] without endangering the achievement of the overall objectives of the reform, it being understood that Union legislation as referred to in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No […...] [HZR] applies to small farmers. The rules on cross compliance shall however still apply to small farmers, as it is important that all farmers in receipt of EU funds, regardless of size of their holdings, adhere to minimum environmental standards. The objective of that scheme should be to support the existing agricultural structure of small farms in the Union without countering the development towards more competitive structures. For that reason, access to the scheme should be limited to existing holdings.
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 43
Recital 43
(43) With a view to strengthening their rural development policy, Member States should be given the possibility to transfer funds from their direct payments ceiling to their support assigned for rural development. At the same time, Member States where the level of direct support remains lower than 90 % of the Union average level of support should be given the possibility to transfer funds from their support assigned for rural development to their direct payments ceiling. Such a choices should be made, within certain limits, once and for the whole period of application of this Regulation.
Amendment 334 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
(iv) a voluntary payment for young farmers who commence their agricultural activity;
Amendment 343 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b – point v
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b – point v
Amendment 385 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c – indent 3
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c – indent 3
– carrying out a minimum activity to be established by Member States on agricultural arif the Member State at national or regional level so chooses, where an area does not require maintenance activity but is insteasd naturally keptmaintained in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation, activities which may be defined at national or regional level;
Amendment 424 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) ‘'permanent grassland’' means land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation (sown) and that has not been included in the crop rotation of the holding for fi, ploughed or reseeded for seven years or longer; it may include other species suitable for grazing provided that thor features; Member States may decide to include land which can be grasseszed and other herbaceous forage remain predominantwhich forms part of established local practices;
Amendment 512 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Without prejudice to Article 8, the total amount of direct payments which may be granted in a Member State pursuant to Titles III, IV and V in respect of a calendar year, after application of Article 11, shall not be higher than the ceilings set out in Annex III to this Regulation.
Amendment 523 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Amendment 696 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Amendment 700 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11
Article 11
Amendment 806 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Provided the respective eligibility requirements are met, it shall be permissible for a farmer to receive direct payments under this Regulation while another claimant receives any other aid not covered by this Regulation on the same eligible hectares
Amendment 813 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Before 1 August 2013, Member States may decide to make available as additional support for measures under rural development programming financed under the EAFRD as specified under Regulation (EU) No […] [RDR], up to 120 % of their annual national ceilings for calendar years 2014 to 2019 as set out in Annex II to this Regulation. As a result, the corresponding amount shall no longer be available for granting direct payments.
Amendment 832 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Funds transferred as additional support for measures under rural development programming in accordance with subparagraph 1 will not be subject to co- financing.
Amendment 853 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Amendment 894 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, Member States that, on 31 December 2013, operated the single payment scheme on the basis of the regional model laid down in Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 may decide, by 1 August 2013, to maintain the payment entitlements allocated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and/or with Regulation (EC) No 73/2009. Member States taking the decision referred to in the previous subparagraph shall use the national reserve as referred to in Article 23 to allocate, in 2014, payment entitlements to those farmers with eligible hectares for which no payment entitlements were allocated in accordance with Regulation (EC) N° 1782/2003 and/or with Regulation (EC) N° 73/2009, provided they respect the conditions laid down in Article 21(1).
Amendment 913 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, set the annual national ceiling for the basic payment scheme by deducting from the annual national ceiling established in Annex II the annual amounts to be set in accordance with Articles 33, 35, 37 and 397. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 56(2).
Amendment 936 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. Subject to paragraph 2Without prejudice to Article 18(2.1a), payment entitlements shall be allocated to those farmers if theywho apply for allocation of payment entitlementsthem under the basic payment scheme by 15 May 2014the date to be set in accordance with Article 78(d) of Regulation (EU) No (HRZ) except in case of force majeure andor exceptional circumstances. The number of payment entitlements allocated shall equal the number that farmers request and which are supported by eligible hectares which they declare in the first year of the scheme.
Amendment 1272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Farmers entitled to a payment under the basic payment scheme referred to in Chapter 1 shall observundertake on their eligible hectares as defined in Article 25(2) the following package of agricultural practises beneficial for the climate and the environment:
Amendment 1282 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to have a rotation of at least three different crops on their arable land where the arable land of the farmer covers more than 3 hectares and is not entirely used for grass production (sown or natural), entirely left fallow or entirely cultivated with crops under water for a significant part of the year;
Amendment 1403 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Any possible sanction imposed by non-compliance with Articles 30, 31 and 32 may go beyond the payment referred to in this Chapter. Any reduction or penalties imposed by such non compliance shall remain in the Member States and regions where it originated.
Amendment 1505 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – title
Article 30 – title
Crop diversificrotation
Amendment 1543 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1
Article 30 – paragraph 1
1. Where the arable land of the farmer covers more than 3 hectares and is not entirely used for grass production (sown or natural), entirely left fallow or entirely cultivated with crops under water for a significant part of the year, cultivation on the arable land shall consist of a rotation of at least three different crops. None of those three crops shall cover less than 5 % of the arable land and the main one shall not exceed 70 % of the arable land or fallow over three consecutive years.
Amendment 1648 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2
Article 31 – paragraph 2
2. Farmers shall be allowed to convert a maximum of 5 % of their reference areas under permanent grassland, unless there are biodiversity and water protection reasons which stand against this conversion. Such examples include conversion on flooding areas, on carbon- rich soils, on protected areas, on precious or sensible soils for water and biodiversity protection. A conversion can be carried out only after submission of an agri- environmental plan or a given written permission. That limit shall not apply in the case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances.
Amendment 1726 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1
Article 32 – paragraph 1
1. Farmers shall ensure that at least 710 % of their eligible hectares as defined in Article 25(2), excluding areas under permanent grassland, is ecological focus area such as land left fallow, terraces, landscape features, buffer strips and afforested areas as referred to in article 25(2)(b)(ii)semi natural habitats. These areas shall not be ploughed, sown or fertilised with inorganic fertiliser, however may be grazed or mown at appropriate season that is compatible with biodiversity conservation needs..
Amendment 1756 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. In order to increase significantly the environmental benefits of this measure farmers should be encouraged to undertake relevant commitments established under Article 29, Chapter 1 of Title III of Regulation (EU) No[ ] [RDR]. Such commitments should be tailored to the land concerned to achieve maximum environmental benefit and may include practices such as linking the ecological focus areas to create ecological networks or sowing pollen and nectar seed mixes beneficial for pollinators.
Amendment 1800 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 2
Article 32 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 55 to further define the types of ecological focus areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the types of management that may be permissible and to add and define other types of ecological focus areas that can be taken into account for the respect of the percentage referred to in that paragraph.
Amendment 1918 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 1
Article 36 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shallmay grant an annual payment to young farmers who are entitled to a payment under the basic payment scheme referred to in Chapter 1.
Amendment 1953 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 36 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) who are lessno more than 40 years of age atin the momentyear of submittingssion of the application to the basic payment scheme referred to in point (a).
Amendment 2008 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38
Article 38
Amendment 2085 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 39
Article 39
Amendment 2157 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 40
Article 40
Amendment 2162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41
Article 41
Amendment 2188 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 a (new)
Article 46 a (new)
Amendment 2212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 3
Article 47 – paragraph 3
3. Farmers participating in the small farmers scheme shall be exempted from the agricultural practises provided foras defined in Chapter 2 of, Title III of this regulation. They shall however fulfil cross compliance obligations as laid down in Regulation (EU) No [..][HZR].
Amendment 2272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
In order to finance the payment referred to in this Title, Member States shall deduct the amounts corresponding to the amounts to which the small farmers would be entitled as a basic payment referred to in Chapter 1 of Title III, as a payment for agricultural practises beneficial for the climate and the environment referred to in Chapter 2 of Title III and, where applicable, as a payment for areas with natural constraints referred to in Chapter 3 of Title III, and as a payment for young farmers referred to in Chapter 4 of Title III and as coupled support referred to in Title IV from the total amounts available for the respective payments.