The implementation of controversial reforms of the European Common Agricultural Policy received another setback last month; in July, MEPs submitted an unprecedented 7,415 amendments to the policy, the draft version of which was published in October 2011 by the European Commission.  

The Commission’s proposals sparked enduring controversy over plans to make a third of payments’ value dependent on fulfilling certain environmental criteria. Although this is widely supported by the European public, farming groups have reacted strongly to proposals and mounted a concerted lobbying campaign to reduce the impact. The reformed CAP would also distribute payments more evenly between member states; this has caused further controversy as more money would be given to newer member states in Eastern Europe.

It is estimated that translating all 7,415 amendments will take until September; over the following months parliamentarians will discuss the amendments and attempt to reach compromises on the main issues. No formal response to the reform proposals will be submitted by the parliament until the European Budget has been decided, which MEPs have acknowledged is likely to delay the implementation of reforms, which were set to come into effect from 2014.

Northern Ireland MEP Diane Dodds said, “The task now is to go through these amendments and make the necessary translations. Compromises and voting on these amendments will follow in the autumn. This is an important time for the industry and the future of the CAP post 2013.”

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