Brussels, 19 June 2024
President Cordeiro,
Honourable members of the European Committee of the Regions,
It is my great pleasure to join you here today – to discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.
From my experience having finalised the last CAP reform in 2021, agreeing on the next CAP requires compromises from all sides and from all stakeholders
That is why today’s debate is important.
Dear colleagues, in the Committee of the Regions, you represent the levels of governance closest to our citizens.
You ensure that diverse perspectives from across Europe are heard and integrated into our policy-making processes.
Therefore, the opinion adopted today will represent a key contribution to the Strategic Dialogue on the future of agriculture.
I thank Ms Gomes, Mr Całbecki, and everyone who took part in this work.
To complement this work, and to support our discussion today, let me briefly share my perspectives on what is needed for the future of o EU agricultural policy.
Based on my experience over the past five years, the future of the CAP must be rooted in the “four S principle”: security, stability, sustainability, and solidarity.
These are the four cornerstones of our food system.
First of all, we need to ensure security in the availability and affordability of food. This is the primary function of agriculture, and a fundamental requirement for our citizens. Therefore, from a strategic perspective, we must work on the principle that all future policy developments, legal regulations, and investment tools are based on a detailed analysis of potential impacts on agricultural activities and food security.
Secondly, we must ensure that the CAP continues to provide stability: in the livelihoods of our farmers, and for the economies of our rural communities. The CAP is a significant safety net for farmers: in 2020, it accounted for 23% of EU farm income on average. However, in 2023, agricultural income was only 60% of the average wage in the rest of economy.
Furthermore, between 2010 and 2020, we lost 3 million farms in European Union, falling from 12 to 9 million. That is equivalent to roughly 800 farms, disappearing every day. We cannot let this trend continue. Therefore, ensuring a fair income for farmers must remain a key priority of the CAP.
In particular, levels of support for young farmers, small farmers, and mixed farmers should be increased, to ensure the resilience and diversity of our food production. Economic viability of farms is fundamental.
The third cornerstone of our food system is sustainability: protecting our climate, biodiversity and natural resources, as well as animal welfare.
First of all, we must recognise the work that our farmers have already done. For example, since 1990, EU agriculture has lowered its greenhouse gas emissions by 23%, while increasing productivity. However, our work must continue.
That is why, from 2023 to 2027, close to €98 billion from the CAP (representing 32% of the total spending) will be devoted to delivering environmental and animal welfare benefits.
47% of EU farmland will be covered by voluntary practices of sustainable management of natural resources, with substantial efforts on soil protection. We must also recognise that crises are the new normal, and adaptation is essential.
There is a need for improved risk management tools and a stronger agricultural reserve to deal with extreme weather events and increased market risks.
To complement the CAP, ambitious investments are needed in research and innovation. These investments must be made accessible to farmers, to help them overcome the challenges they face, and to maximise the opportunities of sustainable farming.
And finally, we must reinforce solidarity – with our farmers, and also with the international community, to maintain our contribution to global food supplies.
In terms of solidarity with our farmers, the Commission has already worked to deliver on simplification, and to strengthen fairness in the supply chain. I will prioritise this work during the remainder of my time in office.
Balancing solidarity with our farmers and with our international trade partners is another key challenge.
On the one hand, we cannot impose the same production requirements on our partners, who are independent countries, facing different conditions and challenges.
On the other hand, we can use our influence, as a Union of 27 countries and 450 million consumers, to demand that imported products meet certain minimum environmental or animal welfare standards.
And let us not forget that the EU is the world’s leading exporter of agri-food products. Overall, our sector benefits from trade, so cooperation and outreach with our partners is necessary.
Honourable Members,
The future of the European Union is starting to take shape:
- In the past weeks, our citizens elected new members of the European Parliament;
- In the coming weeks, the European Council will adopt a new strategic agenda, taking us to 2029.
- And in the coming months, the new college of Commissioners will be selected, to implement our policies.
Today, I would like to send a clear message to all of those who are about to take on this work over the next five years: to every Member of Parliament, to every Prime Minister and Minister, to every member of this Committee.
No matter what area of policy you focus on, no matter what region of Europe you represent, the Common Agricultural Policy is front, central, and fundamental to your work.
There is no other single policy that contributes more to the essential elements and strategic interests of the European Union:
- It makes a vital contribution to our security – defensive security and energy security are nothing without food security;
- It makes a vital contribution to the health and wellbeing of our citizens; and to the protection of our environment;
- It makes a vital contribution to the economic development of our Union, especially in rural and remote regions that can often be left behind;
- And it makes a vital contribution to our democracy, by ensuring food security, as well as our good relations with the world, by reinforcing global food supplies.
In short, we cannot have a strong European Union without a strong Common Agricultural Policy.
So let us work together to shape a strong, effective, and sustainable policy – for the future of every farmer, every region, and every citizen.
On that note, I thank you for your time, and I look forward to our discussion.
Thank you.
Source EU Commission