On Wednesday 17 May, CEJA – the European Council of Young Farmers – published its position on the common agricultural policy (CAP) after 2020.
Generational renewal is of crucial importance to ensure a sustainable future for the CAP. CEJA unveiled its vision for the post-2020 CAP in Brussels on Wednesday. “The CAP has been one of Europe’s success stories”, said CEJA President Alan Jagoe, while still calling for further measures on generational renewal. He urges the Commission to be “ambitious” on the next CAP.
CEJA’s plan focuses on the three key areas “where change must happen”: generational renewal, “progressive and proactive” environmental measures and sustainable economic support. Progress in these areas will provide jobs, growth and investment in rural communities and make the countryside a place where people will want to live and work, CEJA says.
It calls for the CAP budget to be distributed, 20% to various measures and instruments targeting generational renewal. 50% to sustainable economic support and 30% to environmental measures.
The present CAP already contains an aid scheme for young farmers (upper age limit of 40). The Commission will present a communication on modernising and simplifying the CAP before the end of the year. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)