EU farmers need “more support” to introduce production methods “that comply with high environmental, climate and animal welfare standards”, Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said, at a conference on agricultural prospects, in Brussels, on Tuesday 10 December.
He thus prefers to use the carrot rather than the stick, to “get agriculture to make a real contribution to the achievement of the goals of the European Green Deal”, which will be presented on Wednesday 11 December.
Janusz Wojciechowski advocates a “significant increase” in farming’s contribution to the European Green Deal. “We will enable not just 40% but at least 50% of the CAP budget to be earmarked for the environment and climate”. He also intends to “significantly strengthen” the common agricultural policy, especially the second pillar (rural development).
He recalled, with regard to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, that the Commission had proposed 365 billion euros for the CAP, “4% less” than in the current MFF for the first pillar and 15% less for the second pillar. “We are demanding more from farmers while providing them with less support”, the Commissioner admitted. He intends, therefore, to defend the CAP budget and prevent any “further reduction”.
Link to the text of the Commissioner's speech: http://bit.ly/2E1iACk (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)