At their meeting in Brussels on Monday 19 February, EU agriculture ministers called for an effort to be made to ensure a better distribution to farmers of the added value coming from the bioeconomy. They were speaking during discussions on the role of agriculture in the context of the review of the EU’s strategy for the bioeconomy.
EU28 ministers were invited to indicate how, in their view, it would be possible to optimise the advantages and outlets of the bioeconomy for primary producers and what measures could be taken at national level to better integrate farmers and foresters in the bio-economic chains of value. The European Commission plans to present proposals during the third quarter of 2018 for further review of the strategy, launched in 2012. The review is conducted by Commissioner Carlos Moedas (Research), in cooperation with Phil Hogan (Agriculture) and, given its multi-sectoral nature, with the participation of about a dozen directorates general.
During the debate, the Hungarian minister denounced the East-West divide that exists within the EU. He considers the eastern countries serve only as the providers of raw materials for large businesses based in the West. Poland, Croatia and Slovakia have confirmed this point of view and called for specific aid for the region.
Many member states (Portugal, Spain, Slovakia and France) underlined the importance of the financial instruments, the diffusion of information (mainly to farmers) and the exchange of best practice.
Romania proposed that a European register should be established for actions undertaken to promote the bioeconomy so that all actors, especially the agricultural sector, may be kept informed of existing initiatives. Italy, for its part, highlighted the need for a harmonisation of standards for bioproducts.
The EU’s bioeconomy employs some 22 million people, with an annual turnover of over €2 trillion. (Original version in French)