EA President while addressing January Plenary session of the CoR, in the context of the CAP, said to Commissioner Cioloş that it is important for EU to have a fair CAP for all countries from the first day the new rules are applied. He asked for better balance between 1st and 2nd pillar of the CAP policy. The rural development programmes need to be further developed and made as effective as possible. He also stressed that there is a need to increase the amount of 2nd pillar funds allocated to rural development as the current levels of funding are not sufficient to implement the necessary action in the area of development.