Single payment scheme: Set-aside for SPS 2009
The Commission have issued a Press Release concerning their plans to abolish obligatory set-aside from the 2009 SPS scheme year as part of the CAP Health Check proposals. This follows the Special Committee for Agriculture meeting on 30 June at the end of the Slovenian Presidency. The Press Release states that "the outgoing Presidency of the EU Council concluded that the vast majority of Member States will agree to abolish set-aside as proposed by the Commission in its CAP Health Check proposals....... The end of the set-aside scheme will allow farmers to adjust their planting decisions and respond in advance to new market circumstances".
Whilst the announcement does not provide legal certainty, it does give a clear indication that the Council think it is highly unlikely that set-aside will be re-introduced for the 2009 harvest. It is expected that the position will be formalised when the Commission’s Health Check proposals are agreed, expected to be towards the end of this year.
Page published: 4 July 2008