The new agriculture commissioner doesn’t foresee any overhaul of the EU’s agricultural subsidy system, as ministers started talks on reforms, in search of to keep up a farmer-focused widespread agricultural coverage.
EU agriculture ministers assembly in Brussels have outlined the parameters for reforming monetary help for the sector in phrases that may ease farmers, stressing that they are going to search to chop crimson tape moderately than subsidies.
Ministers accepted a set of conclusions outlining key instructions for an upcoming evaluation of the widespread agricultural coverage (CAP) for the following EU price range cycle, masking the interval 2028-2034.
Critics have lengthy argued that the €387 billion program – which makes up a 3rd of the EU price range – disproportionately advantages large-scale farm house owners and contributes to environmental points.
But calls to scale back the CAP price range and redirect funds in the direction of different EU strategic priorities resembling protection have been drowned out this yr by a refrain of protests from farmers throughout Europe.
In a doc made up of 35 key factors, ministers outlined their course for altering the CAP, which ranges from bettering the competitiveness of farmers and strengthening their place within the meals provide chain to adopting a farmer-friendly supply mannequin that scale back paperwork.
New agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen, attending his first ministerial assembly, praised the conclusions as “worthwhile inputs” to outline his imaginative and prescient for agriculture and meals, a strategic doc he’ll current in February.
“Some count on a revolution, however we help the evolution of the CAP,” Hansen informed ministers, underlining a balanced strategy to future reforms that mixes much less regulation and extra incentives for the sector.
Towards the reform of the CAP
The Commission’s first proposal for the brand new CAP reform is anticipated in 2026, solely after EU leaders have determined how a lot cash to allocate to European farmers within the subsequent long-term EU price range.
“I don’t rule out troublesome discussions, for instance on the best way to higher goal EU funds,” Hansen informed ministers, citing the potential impression of EU enlargement and the doubtless future entry of an agricultural powerhouse like Ukraine into the within the block.
In the adopted doc, EU-27 ministers acknowledged that CAP reform ought to proceed to concentrate on farmers, guaranteeing a good lifestyle for the farming group.
“Direct funds ought to proceed to help farmers’ earnings stability,” stated Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy, who has led ministerial talks on the doc in latest months.
Hansen careworn that the principle purpose of the operation was to scale back paperwork. “It’s the generational change that fearful everybody within the room. The administrative burden is being diminished,” he stated in a press convention following the controversy, including: “Our agricultural sector needs to provide, be within the fields, care for all of the animals. Don’t spend too many days filling out paperwork.”
Ministers additionally underlined the necessity to revive the attractiveness of an agricultural profession.
Currently, solely 12% of EU farmers are beneath 40, with a median age of 57. Hansen recognized this as a demographic problem that must be addressed to make sure generational turnover within the business.
The Luxembourg commissioner warned in opposition to the danger of extreme dependence on exterior meals sources if the native agricultural sector collapses, including that meals safety and EU sovereignty are non-negotiable in future CAP talks.
ANNOUNCEMENT“The EU already has too many dependencies, however meals won’t be certainly one of them,” he stated.
