MEP Barry Cowen has raised concerns that the recently published EU Vision for Agriculture "lacks crucial clarity" on funding around the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In a debate with MEPs and the commission, Cowen told the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, that farmers "need certainty, not vague commitments".

The ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ was announced by President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in the political guidelines for her new commission and adopted on February 19 this year.

The communication outlines planned initiatives to simplify and better target CAP to farmers who need support the most.

Cowen said that the commissioner's intention to shift the future of CAP "from a system of conditions to that of incentives" is a "step in the right direction", but that it remains "vague".

"This vision is worryingly vague and persistent rumours that the CAP budget could be merged into a broader funding pot.

"It says nothing concrete specifically about the budgetary needs of the next CAP, failing to acknowledge the need for new funds to pay for the transition towards sustainable food systems and productions," Cowen said.

Commissioner Hansen said that CAP remains "essential" to support farmers income, and that the commission will make the future CAP support "simpler" and "more targeted" to farmers who need it most.

The vision pledges better incentives for ecosystems, services, and giving further responsibility and accountability to member states. It also aims to help member states gain income through new streams, such as carbon farming and bioeconomy.

The commissioner said that "most of the concerns" raised while he was compiling the vision for agriculture, surrounded the "overlap" of legislation, rather than CAP.

By the end of the year, the commission intends on publishing a cross-cutting simplification package.

The commissioner also told MEPs that he will present a simplification package next month based around CAP, but that "more needs to follow".