Copa Cogeca seeks meeting with von der Leyen on CAP proposals
Copa Cogeca has voiced major concerns over European Commission proposals to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget.
The European umbrella organisation representing farmers and agricultural cooperatives is to seek a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the potential reallocation of EU funding into a single fund.
The organisation said the move would "effectively eliminate" the two financial pillars of the CAP.
The issue was to the fore at a recent meeting in Brussels bringing together over one hundred representatives of the European farming community.
The organisation has said that further farmer protests are possible in the coming weeks over their concerns.
Copa Cogeca said that uncertainty dominated the two days of discussions among its members.
"Whether driven by geopolitical instability affecting international trade, economic challenges, or growing regulatory burdens in the internal market, the sector is facing a perfect storm.
"In this climate, the prospect of merging EU agricultural funding into a single fund adds yet another layer of unpredictability, one which casts a long shadow over the beginning of the new commission’s mandate," the organisation said.
Copa Cogeca warned that dismantling the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in favour of a national programming model for each member state would "erode the shared foundation of EU agricultural policy".
It added that the proposal would not only further fragment the Single Market but would also jeopardise the EU's food production capacity, food security, as well as the vitality of its rural areas.
"The agricultural ambition of the new commission must be judged by its actions," Massimiliano Giansanti, Copa president, stated.
"The first of these, if we are to remain consistent with the political commitments made, must be to safeguard the CAP budget—adjusted to reflect inflation.
"The coherence of the agricultural vision, and the ability to deliver real impact for farmers in the field, hinges on this step.
"In the face of today’s uncertainties, there is no security without food security. We have formally requested a meeting with President Ursula von der Leyen, which we hope will take place swiftly," he said.
Cogeca president Lennart Nilsson added that "agri-cooperatives need stability, predictability, trust, and legal certainty".
"The multiple transitions required of European agriculture can and will only be achieved if they are properly financed.
"Investing in agriculture is not merely financial support; it is a strategic investment in Europe’s cornerstone sector, one that underpins the entire EU security architecture," he said.
