Brussels, 03/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - With the European Commission having just published its EU 2020 strategy, the agricultural organisations of the EU on Wednesday 3 March emphasised the essential contribution of the European agricultural sector to European integration and maintaining growth and employment in rural areas.
Padraig Walshe, the president of COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations) has issued a press release in which he stresses that the agricultural sector of the EU represents "a huge source of employment", employing as it does some 30 million people, working full-time or part-time on the farms of the EU. "Taking into account related sectors in the food chain, we estimate that one in six jobs in the EU depends upon agricultural production", said Padraig Walshe.
Given an increase in global demand for food and the risks represented by climate change and increased market volatility on food production, "it is more important than ever for the EU to maintain agricultural activity", the COPA president continued, adding that agriculture therefore has a "big role" to play in the context of the EU 2020 strategy of the Commission over the next 10 years.
"With a strong CAP post-2013, agriculture can do even more to achieving the challenges of food security, combating climate change and maintaining employment. The future CAP should focus on a better functioning market. Farmers' bargaining position in the food chain also needs to be strengthened and measures to help farmers become more competitive must be reinforced. This policy must be discussed before talks on the EU budget take place", added Paolo Bruni, the president of COGECA (General Committee for Agricultural Cooperation in the EU). (L.C./transl.fl)