No. 34 The future of the Common Agricultural Policy 78 ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES CULTIVAR In measures aimed at innovation and research (e.g. AKIS), what is the best way to ensure support in conjunctionwith other policies? I believe that, in this regard, all farmers could benefit from a broad network of technical and management advice, based in a structured manner within agricultural organisations. 5. Governance, financial distribution and simplification What is the appropriate level of national cofinancing? Should it take into account the options of other Member States? Given that our GDP per capita is only 81% of the EU average and that almost all of our rural areas are located in less developed regions, according to the EU Cohesion Policy typology, it would make sense for national cofinancing not to exceed 15% or, at most, 25%. However, I accept that, in exceptional situations, in order to ensure greater coverage of the programmes, it may reach 35%. In Portugal, how should the financial architecture be organisedby major types of intervention?Should there be a regional breakdown (indicative or mandatory)? I believe that we should move towards an approach similar to that of Regional Development Policy. In other words, part of the CAP resources should be allocated to decentralised programmes, based on regional specificity and equity. There should be a minimum financial allocation for certain purposes (climate, young people, environment, etc.). Which objectives/themes should have pre-set limits? The current CAP regulations already impose ringfencing for environmental and climate measures and increases for young farmers. I believe we will continue along this path, even though the minimum thresholds for environmental and climate measures seem high to me, as I mentioned above. In this regard, a distinction should be made between Member States, for example, based on their degree of self-sufficiency or technological level (such as fertiliser consumption per hectare, etc.), as we are in a more environmentally friendly position in this respect than countries such as France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium or the Netherlands. How can we ensure effective simplification of support withoutlosingcontrolover the applicationof public funds? It all starts with the design of the measures. Unfortunately, in Portugal, we have a tradition of turning on the 'complication meter', designing complex measures that are then not implemented, or inventing ways to circumvent the application criteria. The EU has also been following this path in recent years, especially with regard to environmental measures, accumulated layers of certification, etc. The result is usually a loss of competitiveness, in addition to the distortion of the rules. Hence the importance of designing simple implementation rules from the outset and then establishing a good monitoring and enforcement system.
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