European and External Affairs Committee

Inquiry into CAP Health Check

Terms of Reference

On 20 May the European Commission published proposals to amend the delivery of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2009-2013 as part of the Health Check of the CAP.* The aim of the Health Check is to examine the success of the 2003 reform** of the CAP in light of the challenges and market conditions facing rural Europe and the agricultural sector, and propose minor changes to take account of these new conditions, and build on the experiences gained since 2003, particularly in terms of simplification.

The Welsh Assembly Government has sought views as part of this process.

At its meeting on the 17 April 2008, the Members of the European and External Affairs Committee indicated that they wished to undertake a short inquiry into the CAP health check. The aim of the inquiry was to:

• assess the potential impact of the Commission’s proposals on agriculture and land management in Wales;

• gain the views of stakeholders on the proposals;

• make recommendations to the Welsh Assembly Government for their negotiations with the other UK administrations and Member States.

*European Commission, Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy 20 May 2008

** The 2003 reform were instrumental in removing the link between production and payments by introducing the Single Payment Scheme. Rural Development was also strengthened