MEPs and experts from the agriculture sector voiced their differences on how to implement the ideas arising from the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, at a hearing organised on Monday 14 October by the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture (see EUROPE 13483/8).
Peter Meedendorp, President of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), believes that different sustainability criteria are being imposed on farmers. The strategic dialogue must be continued, in particular via a platform for exchange. He mentioned the problem of access to land, as did Lili Balogh, President of Agroecology Europe, who stressed the disparity in agricultural support.
Leo Alders, President of Fertilizers Europe, stressed the need to invest in green fertilizers, even if this represents a technological challenge.
Massimiliano Giansanti, President of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations (Copa) in the European Union, spoke of the recent difficult years caused by natural disasters and the fall in agriculture income over the years. Among the priorities he mentioned were reciprocity of standards (for imported products) and farmers’ incomes. It is necessary to work on the instruments that will make it possible to achieve sustainability objectives. The results of the strategic dialogue are a starting point, he said. Massimiliano Giansanti called for the CAP budget to be revised to take account of inflation.
Agricultural funds. Antonio Decaro (S&D, Italian), from the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, felt that CAP funds should be given as a priority to farmers who need them and whose practices are beneficial to the environment. This transition must involve sacrifices, and the EU must make sacrifices to help farmers. A fund dedicated to the transition in agriculture is a step in the right direction, according to Mr Decaro.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian) asked how farmers most in need of agricultural funds should be defined. “We need to talk about money”, said Esther Herranz García (EPP, Spanish). She opposed ideas to renationalise the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and introduce conditionality on the granting of agricultural funds.
Dario Nardella (S&D, Italian) also called for more resources, particularly for small farmers. He felt that the results of the strategic dialogue were somewhat weak in terms of competitiveness and innovation.
Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French) welcomed the fact that this dialogue had made it possible to depolarise the debate on agriculture and find compromises with concrete solutions.
Finally, Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA, Austrian) called for a genuine agricultural transition in Europe and a European soil observatory. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)