A (SUSTAINABLE) CAP AFTER BREXIT AND THE PARIS AGREEMENT. VIEWS FROM ROMANIA

Abstract

The CAP is up for a review of the 2014-2020  policy regime as people are preparing  for the next ‘reform’. One of the reasons why the debate is important now on the CAP after 2020 is that the challenges facing agriculture after 2020 have evolved since the last 2013 reform. In 2016, two major political events affected the debate. The Paris Agreement on climate change set ambitious climate goals, which might be difficult to accommodate with industrial farming; while Brexit triggered implications for structural funds, food and agriculture in the UK and the rest of the EU. That had an impact upon the Multiannual Financial Framework as the major contributors talked about a reduction of the EU funds allocated to CAP while the net beneficiaries from Central and Eastern Europe strongly oppose a reduction of funds allocated to their countries. Romania is also opposing this reduction but having the Presidency of the Council of the EU needs to act like an ”honest broker” and thus find that golden middle way.