Commission proposals for CAP transition rules in 2014

The European Commission has today published proposals to provide transitional arrangements in 2014 for certain Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) rules, notably the system of Direct Payments. Although the Commission is working intensively with the European Parliament and the Council to reach a political agreement on CAP reform – and remains optimistic that this can be concluded before the end of June – so that the new legal regulations can be in place from January 1, 2014, it is not realistic for Member States to have all the necessary administrative procedures in place by the start of next year.