Health - Check of Common Agricultural Policy and Polish Government Position on the Proposed Direct and Farm Payments

In the frames of reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy negotiation in 2003 which were held in Luxembourg, besides declarations on modifications of the existing instruments of agricultural support, also alignment policy of estimation of the whole system functioning mechanisms was discussed (Health Check). The debate on the CAP reforms started on November 20, 2007 by publication of the European Commission announcement preparations to estimation of the CAP reforms functioning. After several months of consultations, basing on the European Council Conclusion, on May 20, 2008 the European Commission published a legislative package which has become a basis of intensive works at forum of the European Union Council. Nowadays the negotiation process is entering into the deciding sphere where solutions will bring important changes in the CAP in 2009. Polish government decided to accept the proposed solution in some spheres, while in others to pay attention on their negative impact for the new EU member states. The Ministry of Agriculture of Poland proposed also the methods for improvement the CAP reforms, and proposals to be taken under consideration during the previous negotiations.