EU agri-sector organisations have called for the sector to be placed at the core of the bloc's new Competitiveness Fund.

In recent months and years, EU leaders have highlighted economic competitiveness as one of its key policies going forward.

This has seen the bloc move to cut some red tape and bureaucracy across several economic sectors.

As well as that, the European Commission has proposed a Competitiveness Fund worth €234 billion in the next long-term EU budget for 2028 to 2034.

In a joint statement, some 40 groups representing farmers, processors and other business in the agri-sector called for farming to be considered a key sector for support under the Competitiveness Fund.

Among organisations backing the joint statement are Copa Cogeca, which represents farmers and agricultural co-operatives; and CEJA, which represents young farmer organisations in the different member states.

These groups say that the Competitiveness Fund is a "major opportunity" to mobilise investments in agriculture, food and the whole agri-food chain, including in food processing and manufacturing.

The joint statement said that support from this fund could boost investment for key infrastructure, services and skills; and could reduce the "investment gap" in the sector.

The statement said that agriculture can contribute to all the priorities of the Competitiveness Fund, including decarbonisation, digital transformation, health, and security.

"This recognition must be reflected in the design and implementation of the [Competitiveness Fund] through dedicated sufficient resources, appropriate governance and effective participation of agricultural and agri-food chain actors," the statement added.

However, these groups say that they are concerned over the approach taken by the European Parliament's committee on industry, research and energy.

This approach would replace the "Health, Biotech, Agriculture and Bioeconomy" heading under the Competitiveness Fund with a "Sustainable Prosperity" approach.

The joint statement claimed this could limit agriculture's access to support under the fund.

"At a time when the EU is seeking to strengthen its strategic autonomy, food security and industrial capacity, reducing the place of agriculture and food sectors within the [fund] would send the wrong political signal and undermine one of Europe’s key strategic sectors," the statement said.

The groups behind the statement welcomed moves from member states and the European Parliament's agriculture committee to protect the sector as a potential beneficiary under the fund.

"We ask the European Parliament to support [that] approach. Investing in the EU’s agriculture and food sectors across the whole agri-food chain means investing in Europe’s security, resilience, growth, and its future," the statement said.