Workshop 1 – Implementation of the new CAP Michael Cooper Director – UK Co-ordinating Body 12 September 2012

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation: conclusions of the 30th Conference of Directors in Sopot (16629/11 of 10 November 2011) - 18 to 24 months required to align procedures and ICT systems - Regulations need to be unambiguous and contain clear definitions - Transitional arrangements will be necessary - Discussions on the contents of implementing regulations need to start as soon as possible - Simplification of the regulations is a priority

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation: conclusions of 31st Conference of Directors in Horsens (12231/1/12 REV 1 of 11 July 2012) - Paying Agencies have particular concerns regarding the implementation of greening, changes to the land parcel Identification System and the audit of legality and regularity. - Implementation of the proposed reforms will entail an increase in administrative costs for farmers and Paying Agencies alike. There is a need for simplification. - Essential to allow sufficient time to implement the changes resulting from the reform.

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation - September 2011 questionnaire: importance and difficulty of 25 factors assessed by Paying Agencies

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation - September 2011 questionnaire: the five most difficult tasks -Specifying new business and operational processes, organizational structures, data requirements and management information -Delivering relevant ICT and change projects within agreed tolerances for time, cost and quality -Procuring new information systems (including external or internal development or upgrading of existing systems) -Ensuring low levels of financial correction -Ensuring that scheme payments are legal and regular and have low rates of error

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation - September 2011 questionnaire: other challenging tasks -Transposing EU regulations into national legislation -Defining how environmental requirements will be fulfilled -Defining, resourcing and managing CAP reform change -Defining resources needed for implementation of schemes -Reducing costs of control -Increasing customer satisfaction

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation - September 2011 questionnaire: Main risks to successful implementation - Lack of time for implementation – late decisions on the regulations - Rules and definitions are unclear, ambiguous and too general - Rules and definitions are too complex and detailed - Rules change too frequently - Lack of sufficient human resources - Budgetary contstraints - Rules are difficult for beneficiaries

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation - September 2011 questionnaire: Ways of mitigating the implementation risks - EU legislation in time to allow up to 24 months for implementation - transitional period for new requirements to be phased in - clear and precise EU regulations - stability in the rules once agreed - feedback from EC: working documents explaining definitions etc - pre-implementation reviews - better communication and cooperation between EC and MS (PA) - better communication PA – beneficiaries - staff training - simplification!

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation – theme 1 (for discussion) ICT, business processes and data Question 1 – What are the main risks to the successful delivery of the ICT, business processes (including online services) and data that will be required for CAP reform, particularly new requirements such as greening? Question 2 – What steps could be taken to mitigate these risks?

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation – theme 2 (for discussion) Compliance and audit Question 1 – What are the main risks to interpreting the new regulations correctly, delivering payments with low rates of error and financial correction and auditing payments in a cost effective way? Question 2 – What steps could be taken to mitigate these risks?

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation – theme 3 (for discussion) Relationship with beneficiaries Question 1 – What are the main risks to maintaining an effective relationship between Paying Agencies and beneficiaries, e.g. as regards ensuring that beneficiaries understand and comply with the new rules and receive adequate advice under the Farm Advisory Service? Question 2 – What steps could be taken to mitigate these risks?

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU CAP reform implementation – theme 4 (for discussion) Financial and human resources Question 1 – What are the main risks in connection with estimating and obtaining the necessary financial and human resources required to implement CAP reform and manage schemes in a cost effective way after 2013? Question 2 – What steps could be taken to mitigate these risks?

Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU THANK YOU!