Hansen: 'I intend to keep direct payments for farmers'
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen has said he intends to keep direct income support, and direct payments as the main tool supporting the farming community.
Speaking at the commission's conference on the Vision for Agriculture and Food in Brussels this morning (May 8), Commissioner Hansen outlined that he doesn't want to "fix what's not broken," and that the EU's policies do not need a "revolution".
Prior to the commissioner's address, participants at the conference had expressed concerns that the vision was too "vague".
Commissioner Hansen said: "I've seen some have said that it is too vague, the vision is a starting point, it's the pathway for future actions that we have to shape together.
"There needs to be room as well for your input, I can say that the vision has been well received so far in the member states and in the discussion with the different stakeholders and we have already started to deliver on the initiatives announced, there is a lot more to do."
According to Commissioner Hansen, the goal of the vision is for farmers across the EU to feel the benefits of the vision's projects.
"I heard once that the farmer has to be an optimist or he would not be a farmer, but still more than optimism, we need pragmatism and realism in our policy-making," Hansen said.
The commissioner also claims that over the last 10 years, the EU has lost more than 3 million farms, and that there are 9 million farms remaining.
He said: "I think it is our common duty to create the opportunities and the environment so that these 9 million farms can remain and can thrive.
"If we do not act to secure farming for future generations, we will lose even more of those farms, and that would also threaten the EU's strategic autonomy in food production," he added.
The commissioner also addressed concerns about generational renewal within the European Union.
He claims that the EU will work on improving support for young farmers to start their farming operations, but that young farmers need some "other basics" to assist them to go into farming.
He said: "Young farmers need access to knowledge, access to credit and land and also to rural services. This is something very important to rural areas and as well to rural development remain very important.
"I met with a young dairy farmer from Finland, and she said to me, 'I have to decide, either kids or cows'. That is something need to think very strongly (about) as well," he added.
