On Tuesday 21 October, the European Commission adopted a strategy for generational renewal aimed at “making support for young and new farmers a political priority for our food security and our rural areas”, said Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen.
The Commission will ask each Member State to prepare a national strategy as part of their future budget plans to “prepare for the next generation of farmers” (see EUROPE 13734/10).
The Commission will also make specific recommendations as part of the ‘European Semester’ budget process, “on land policies, speculative acquisitions, succession laws, or pension schemes for farmers, for example”, said the Commissioner (https://aeur.eu/f/j2c ).
The measures planned concern the next multiannual financial framework, in particular the earmarking of at least 6% of the CAP envelope to support young and new farmers, as well as a start-up pack.
The Commission plans to co-finance the wages of replacements under the ‘farm replacement service’ to improve the work-life balance of farmers who need to take a break, whether for health reasons, to look after a relative or to go on holiday.
In 2026, the Commission will set up a ‘European Land Observatory’ to monitor land availability and prevent land speculation. Other short-term measures include the creation of a mentoring platform and the Erasmus programme for young entrepreneurs.
Doubling the funding envelope. “We will be recommending to the Member States that, when they draw up their plans for the 2028-2034 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), they devote at least 6% of their CAP envelope to supporting young farmers by 2040”, explained an EU source on Monday.
Member States will also be able to mobilise other funding from national and regional partnership plans, as well as national funds, to support this initiative.
Compared with the current 3%, which is a minimum obligation for countries, the 6% represents a doubling of the subsidy, but will not be binding, the same source added. The Commission will pay particular attention to those Member States lagging behind in this area.
Starter pack. Each Member State will have to put in place a ‘starter pack’. This scheme will include support for getting started, in the form of a lump-sum grant of up to €300,000 for installing and purchasing equipment. It could include investment aid, easier access to financial instruments and tax incentives.
“Each country will be able to determine its own combination of measures depending on its situation, but we will ensure that the starter pack is actually available”, added a European source.
The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) regretted that the ambition of the strategy was not reflected in July’s legislative and budgetary proposals. Despite the recommendation to allocate at least 6% of the CAP to young farmers, the Commission’s proposals “make no binding financial commitment to generational renewal”, deplores the organisation.
Link to the communication: https://aeur.eu/f/j2d (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur, with Solenn Paulic)