Discussions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) “must draw lessons” from the outcome of the EU strategic dialogue on agriculture, according to the group representing EU young farmers.
Last week, the final report on the strategic dialogue was presented to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
The report included a number of recommendation, including strengthening farmers’ position in the food value chain, and providing access to finance.
At an informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Budapest, Hungary, this morning (Tuesday, September 10), the president of CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers) welcomed the capacity of stakeholders to advance concrete proposals and the unanimous support for the objective of generational renewal in the strategic dialogue.
Dutch tillage farmer Peter Meedendorp called on the EU institutions to “draw the positive lessons” of the dialogue “for years to come”.
“Competitive, crisis-proof, sustainable, farmer-friendly and knowledge-based [are objectives that] all resonate with our aspirations as young farmers,” Meedendorp told agriculture ministers.
“They show what our young farmers want to be. Forward-looking entrepreneurs adapting to their environment, who produce under good conditions and with good income,” he added.
“In this, CAP certainly has a role to play, from income support better targeted at active farmers, to improved risk management, market measures and incentivising environmental tools.”
According to CEJA, CAP remains of great importance for the realisation of EU objectives, including economic productivity, environmental care, and social inclusion.
However, CEJA said that CAP remains closely intertwined with many policies and “market realities”.
The group called for future reform of the CAP to be tackled in a “holistic and concerted way”.
Apart from measures for generational renewal, CEJA is also calling for the future CAP to give reinforced attention to: enabling a more balanced value chain approach; setting a solid crisis management framework; facilitating access to financing and knowledge; and creating the conditions for more social and territorial cohesion.
CEJA said it “stands ready” to contribute to the future of the CAP, and it called on all EU institutions to “co-operate in good spirit to create a practical, implementable, and nonetheless ambitious policy”.