European regions must have a central role in the governance, management and delivery of the future CAP!

Press release 15/04/2021

On the eve of the first trilogue negotiations on the territorial dimension and the governance of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Agriregions Coalition, AREFLH, AREPO and Euromontana, representing together more than 30 regions from 9 Member States, have joined together to call for a greater recognition of the role of European regions in the elaboration, management and delivery of the future CAP strategic plans.

According to Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Regional Council of Brittany, “this is a matter of bringing Europe closer to the citizens. It is essential that the European regions are fully involved in drawing up the future CAP Strategic Plans, that their role as regional managing authorities is recognised in the regulation and that they can continue to engage in a dialogue with the European Commission when necessary. Without this provision, we risk losing the wealth of management experience built up over the years in many European regions as well as the progress made in adapting the CAP, and in particular the rural development measures, to local needs”.

In particular, the European regions are asking for:

• The possibility for all Member States to establish elements of the CAP strategic plan at regional level, as it is the case today;
• A comprehensive and common European approach to the governance of interventions established at regional level through the possibility for all Member States to designate Regional Managing Authorities for the definition, management and implementation of the CAP interventions established at regional level as well as the setting up of regional monitoring committees in line with the partnership principle
• The full involvement of regional authorities in the elaboration phase of the Strategic Plan as well as in its future governance and implementation, especially in the case of interventions established at regional level

The introduction of these improvements to the CAP Strategic Plans proposal will ensure that the territorial and bottom-up approach will be at the heart of the future CAP and of the Rural development policy in particular, while strengthening the coherence and consistency of the overall plan. Overall, this will result in a more effective implementation of the CAP strategic plans at territorial level.

The Coalition of European AGRIREGIONS is the voice of European regions mobilised to defend a fair and sustainable future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the role of regions in its implementation. It represents 16 regions from 7 Member States:

Açores, Andalusia, Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Bretagne, Castilla y Léon, Emilia-Romagna, Extremadura, Lombardia, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire, Sibiu County, Toscana, Wielkopolska.

Contact point: Federico Sgarbi, Policy officer (federico.sgarbi@bretagne.bzh)

The Assembly of European Horticultural Regions (AREFLH) is a European association representing 16 EU regions and 35 Associations of Producer Organisations across 10 European countries. Its main missions are: to defend the economic and social interests of the fruit, vegetable and horticultural sectors in Europe; to foster exchanges of best practices, partnerships and joint projects between regions and professional organisations; to actively seek new solutions for the main issues affecting the future of the fruit and vegetable production in Europe.

Contact point: Pauline Panegos, Secretary-General (s.general@areflh.org)

The Association of European Regions for Products of Origin (AREPO) brings together 33 regions from 8 EU Member States and more than 700 associations of producers of Geographical Indications from these regions, equivalent to more than 50% of European GIs.

AREPO aims to promote and defend the interests of producers and consumers in European regions committed to promoting quality agri-food products.

Contact point: Giulia Scaglioni, Senior policy officer (policyofficer@arepoquality.eu)

Euromontana is the European multisectoral association for co-operation and development of mountain territories. It embraces regional and national mountain organisations throughout greater Europe, including regional development agencies, local authorities, agriculture organisations, environmental agencies, forestry organisations and research institutes. Euromontana’s mission is to promote living mountains, integrated and sustainable development and quality of life in mountain areas.

Contact point: Marie Clotteau, Director (marie.clotteau@euromontana.org)

Press release in PDF.