On Wednesday 3 September, the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament presented an ambitious position on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), sharply criticising the European Commission’s reform proposal as insufficient to meet current social, economic and environmental challenges (see EUROPE 13687/11).
The S&D group advocates a reinforced budget indexed to inflation in order to compensate for an erosion of €85 billion since 2020 and to respond to growing challenges. It proposes creating a Just Transition Fund for farming, financed outside the CAP budget, to support farmers in their transition to sustainable practices. According to the MEPs in this group, direct aid should be capped at between €75,000 and €95,000 per beneficiary, with ‘degressivity’ (reduction of support) favouring small farms and young farmers.
Faced with an ageing farming population and rural exodus, the S&D group is calling for concrete measures to facilitate access to land and financing, including the creation of a European land observatory and pre-emption rights for young farmers. It is also defending a ‘right to stay’ in rural areas, with massive investment in public services (health, education, digital) and incentives for local businesses to combat the rural depopulation and revitalise the regions.
The CAP must be brought into line with the objectives of the ‘European Green Deal’, with at least 30% of its budget dedicated to the ecological transition, according to the S&D group, which is calling for a drastic reduction in the use of pesticides, the protection of soils and wetlands, and increased support for agro-ecology and short distribution channels.
To stabilise farmers’ incomes, the group is proposing to create a multiannual agricultural reserve fund and strategic stocks to combat price volatility. These MEPs are also calling for a ban on below-cost selling and a strengthening of producer organisations to restore the balance of power in the food chain. Trade agreements must include strict social and environmental clauses to prevent dumping and ensure fair competition. The key role of artificial intelligence and digital tools (drones, sensors) is highlighted in optimising yields and reducing ecological footprints.
Link to the document: https://aeur.eu/f/i8r (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)