Going beyond sectoral demands. The current danger, now that the debate on the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP) is being exclusively tackled by those directly involved in the orientations outlined by the European Commission - ministers for agriculture, agricultural organisations and market operators - is that each player will only be concerned with defending their own specific interests. Obviously, these interests are legitimate because if production is to exist, it must be appropriately reimbursed and subject to appropriate rules. Nonetheless, what really counts should not be forgotten, namely, the fact that agriculture is essential for the future of humanity in general and Europe in particular. This is the only justification for the CAP and its update.
Over recent weeks, everyone has read the few lines emphasising the notion of a more ecological and more climate friendly farming etc. These concepts are contained in the Commission text and they have been underlined by Commissioner Dacian Cioloº. They should not be considered as superficial slogans. On the contrary, they must be able to inspire and determine the orientations of the EU and what decisions it makes. If the debate degenerates into a quarrel about national and sector based demands, support and interest among the public and general political forces could rapidly run out of steam. The economic forces not directly involved in farming (which consider that the opening up to agricultural products from outside the EU in exchange for EU concessions in other sectors is required) would impose their own interests. If the agricultural organisations are exclusively concerned with defending the interests of their members and formulating demands essentially based on the level of subsidies and other guarantees ensured by the CAP, they will lose significant support from the public and different political forces. Emphasis should primarily be placed upon the unique and irreplaceable activity of farming, not upon the interests of a specific section of the population but on the interests of all.
The importance of food self-sufficiency. If I happen to be emphasising a point, it is because it is something that has already happened in the history of European construction. The Agriculture Council, together with the support of the commissioner for agriculture at the time, sent the European Council a good comprehensive document on the future of agriculture. The life of this document, however, was brief. The foreign affairs minister included it in the package (a very full one, as ever) of the texts sent at the time to one or other of the heads of government summits. None of them bothered to read it and the document finished its career in the Community archives, where it was undoubtedly carefully filed away. This time, things have to be different. The conditions have never been as favourable for recognising the role of agriculture by the by political leaders and public. We need to seize the moment. For example, the demand for European food autonomy had never previously been admitted with such clarity. In the past, to certain member states that were used to importing most of their food from overseas, it appeared to be an insult to free trade. Mr Cioloº has not used the terms self-sufficiency, but he has included, among the priority objectives of the updated CAP, the notion of “security of supply” and subsequently creates the impression that imports would become difficult. This is logical. The EU is in no way aiming to control or limit imports. It is by far the biggest importer in the world of tropical and other products from developing countries and it will remain so.
The notion of food autonomy, simply means that Europe must be able to, if necessary, feed its population, without being subject to possible blackmail or speculation by big business interests operating in the area of raw agricultural products. In the current international situation and faced with the expansion of the world's population and possible blackmail, the EU as a whole, must take precautionary measures: food self-sufficiency is, in the world of today, a prerequisite for any kind of autonomy. Europe will respect trade and even intends to expand it but in respect for quality standards, production methods and controls of origin, which it imposes itself.
Land management. The major principles are priorities if we want the development of the CAP to obtain support from the public. The importance of farming is much more than simply product volume from this activity. It is, in fact, about land management. It is not only food safety, which depends upon it but also the balance of nature as a whole. This column will return to this subject tomorrow. Rules are nothing other than tools. If we forget this, the negotiations now beginning, could take a turn for the worse.
(F.R./transl.fl)