In Strasbourg on Tuesday 29 May, the European Parliament called for support for young farmers to be continued in the future “by increasing the maximum level of national funding allocation beyond 2% for compulsory payments (under the first pillar) and by increasing the support rate under the second pillar in order to encourage generational renewal” (see EUROPE 12011).
With the adoption of the report by Nicola Caputo (S&D, Italy) on implementation of CAP instruments in favour of young farmers since the 2013 reform, Parliament underlines that the reinforcement of a start-up aid measure for young farmers (young farmer grants) should be considered in any future CAP.
Access to land is the largest barrier to new entrants to farming in Europe. To address this problem, Parliament recommends re-evaluation of the direct payment structure and incentives for older farmers to give up their farms to younger generations. Other obstacles encountered by young farmers should be reduced, such as: access to capital, lack of professional skills and insufficient succession plans. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)