The European Council has agreed its negotiating position (general approach) on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package. This agreed position presents some firm commitments from member states for increased environmental ambition with instruments such as eco - mandatory schemes (a novelty compared to current policy) and improved conditionality. At the same time, the agreed position allows Member States to have the necessary flexibility on how to achieve environmental objectives. For example, there would be a two-year pilot phase for eco-schemes and member states would enjoy flexibility on how to allocate funds under different green practices.

A general approach means that the Council now has a political mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament, once the co-legislator also agrees on its internal position, with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement.

Julia Klöckner, Germany's Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture: "The agreement is a milestone for European agricultural policy. Member States demonstrated their ambition to achieve higher environmental standards in agriculture, while at the same time supporting the flexibility needed to ensure the competitiveness of farmers. This agreement fulfills the aspiration of a more ecological, fair and simple CAP. The reform of the CAP provides that, although more flexibility will be given to the Member States in the elaboration of rules and allocations of funds through the development of national strategic plans, they will be forced to demonstrate greater environmental ambition compared to the current period. The so-called "new delivery model" would favor performance over compliance: it would allow countries to choose the best tools and actions at their own expense. readiness (and also taking into account national specificities) to achieve the objectives and is agreed standards in the EU ".

Some concrete examples of member states that will meet higher environmental standards, which were discussed and agreed upon during the two days of the Council, include:

- Farmers would receive financial support on the condition that they adopt practices that are beneficial to the climate and the environment, to make the CAP even greener than before.

- Farmers who go beyond basic environmental and climate requirements will gain additional financial support through the introduction of "green plans". These new instruments for the protection of the environment and the climate would be linked to a specific budget, which would be part of the direct payments budget. It would be limited to 20%, which means that they would be unlocked through the use of green plans. An initial two-year pilot phase would ensure that Member States do not lose much-needed funds while they become familiar with the new instruments. Indicative examples of eco-schemes include practices such as precision agriculture, agroforestry, and organic agriculture, but member states would be free to design their own instruments based on their needs.

- All farmers would be subject to stricter environmental standards; even the little ones. To help them in this ecological transition, small farmers would be subject to more simplified controls, which would reduce the administrative burden and ensure their contribution to environmental and climate objectives.

The Council's position is the result of negotiations and the work carried out over the past two and a half years and under five presidencies.

The European Commission presented the post-2020 CAP reform package in 2018; the package consists of three proposals:

- a regulation on the strategic plans of the CAP

- a regulation on financing, management and monitoring of the CAP

- a regulation on a common organization of the market for agricultural products