Now that the composition of the new European Parliament is almost entirely established, the farming world is wondering which European figures will influence the common agricultural policy (CAP). A number of key figures stand out from the crowd and are set to join Parliament’s next Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI).
MEPs from countries such as Germany, France and Spain - historically agricultural powers that hold a large number of seats in the European Parliament - are at an advantage, especially when these MEPs are members of major European parties. One of the most prominent figures is Norbert Lins, a German MEP, member of the EPP and CDU and chairman of the AGRI committee since 2019, who comes from a farming family.
Having already been a member of the AGRI committee is a great advantage. Italy’s Herbert Dorfmann, a member of the AGRI committee since 2009 and EPP coordinator on this committee, is a favoured candidate for this new legislature, as are his compatriot Salvatore de Meo, Spain’s Esther Herranz García (EPP), Carmen Crespo (EPP) and Juan Ignacio Zoido (EPP), and Germany’s Maria Noichl (S&D).
Some of the new MEPs are in the spotlight thanks to their professional or family farming experience. As well as Norbert Lins, French MEPs Valérie Deloge (ID) and Céline Imart (EPP), and German MEP Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA), are or were farmers.
Others have had political experience at national level, such as Christine Schneider, a member of the German CDU’s Federal Committee for Agriculture and Rural Areas since 2014, Herbert Dorfmann, who has been active in agricultural policy at national level since 1995, Benoît Cassart, Secretary General of the Belgian Livestock and Meat Trade Federation, and Gabriel Mato, advisor for agriculture, livestock, fisheries and food to the Canary Islands government.
Finally, a number of MEPs from Eastern and Central European countries are being considered for membership of the AGRI committee, including the Slovaks Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe), Katarína Roth Nevedalová (NI) and Martin Hlaváček (Renew Europe), the Czechs Veronika Vrecionová (ECR) and Ivan David (ID) and the Hungarians Gabriella Gerzsényí and Győrffy Balázs (NI). (Original version in French by Paul Charles - intern)