24 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM Another change concerns the definition of an “active” farmer. Todays “genuine farmers” shall be defined in a way to ensure that no support is granted to those whose agricultural activity forms only an insignificant part of their overall economic activities or whose principal business activity is not agricultural, while not precluding from support plural-active farmers. The definition allows for determination of which farmers are not con- sidered genuine farmers, based on conditions such as income tests, labour inputs on the farm, company object and/or inclusion in registers. The Paris Agreement sets out a global plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by keeping global warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, the EU and the countries are required to submit compre- hensive national climate action plans. The EU was the first major economy to table its commitment − a domestic emissions reduction target of at least 40% by 2030. To date, 190 coun- tries – accounting for 97% of global emissions – have presented their plans. Of course, in this scenario, the agricultural sector plays a strategic role. The new CAP post 2020 should ensure that member states increase the environmental delivery by respect- ing local needs and farmers actual circumstances. Under direct payments in the CAP Strategic Plan, member states should set up voluntary Eco-schemes for farmers, which should be fully coordinated with the other relevant interventions. The aim is to enhance the environmental and climate performance of the CAP and should consequently be conceived to go beyond the mandatory requirements already prescribed by the system of conditionality. Member states may decide to set up eco-schemes for agricultural practices such as the enhanced management of permanent pastures and landscape features, and organic farm- ing (Fig. 4). For the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas, the new CAP after 2020 offers types of interventions shall be the following: (a)  environmental, climate and other management commit- ments; (b) natural or other area-specific constraints; (c)  Area-specific disadvantages resulting from certain man- datory requirements; (d) investments; (e) installation of young farmers and rural business start-up; (f) risk management tools; (g) cooperation; (h) knowledge exchange and information. Since the Treaty of Rome, the Common Agricultural Policy has played a strategic role in the process of European integra- tion. The CAP was the first true common policy. During the var- ious Reforms (MacSharry, Agenda 2000, Fishler, Health Check, 2007-2013, 2014-2020), Europe has always played a key role in managing these processes. What emerges from this new struc- ture of the CAP is that the member states will have more dis- cretion and freedom of choice. Europe is losing its central role and is delegating these important choices to the member states. This change is resulting in less of the “common mission” of the CAP and it also creating strong internal competition within the EU. All these risks are weakening the European vision which is already put at risk by other phenomena such as migration and populism. Let's see what happens when the European Parliament committees start working on the proposal for the trialogues. Perhaps, it would be advisable to rethink the name CAP, eliminating the adjective "common". This proposal right now has very little in “common”. BIBLIOGRAPHY REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL: establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council. https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/com- mon-agricultural-policy/cap-glance_en https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/index_en Editor’s Note: Dario Siggia has a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and Policy and is working as Accredited Parliamentary Assistant at the European Parliament. He is author of several papers published in International Journals and has been a speaker at international confer- ences (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece and Poland). FIG. 4 NEW GREEN STRUCTURE OF THE CAP agri-environment measures Pillar II Eco-schemes Voluntary New conditionality Mandatory In the CAP post 2020 proposals, Europe is losing its central role and is delegating these important choices to the member states.