Brussels (B), 21 June 2011

Thursday the European Parliament will give its opinion on the report of MEP Albert Dess « The CAP towards 2020 », during its plenary meeting. This vote will be historical and decisive in that co-decision gives Parliament an equal say to the Council on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

For the members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), who gathered today on the occasion of a debate on the CAP reform this is an opportunity to underline the need for a strong, sustainable and inclusive CAP for the regions.

AER welcomes the evolution of the report towards proposals that better take into account the whole range of challenges rural areas are faced with and supports in particular:

• Further simplification for an efficient CAP that is able to reach its objectives;
• The implementation of the principles of subsidiarity and multi-level governance;
• A more flexible rural development policy that is better coordinated with Cohesion Policy.

Additionally and with views to AER’s wish to constantly put into perspective, exchange and provide concrete information, members will meet today and tomorrow academics from the Wageningen University and Research Center (WUR) as well as different stakeholders of the agricultural sector on the themes of productivity and sustainability.

For more information: info@aer.eu