Maria Walsh (EPP, Irish), rapporteur on generational renewal, recommended before European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday 2 June that at least 10% (6%, according to the European Commission) of the budget for the next common agricultural policy (CAP) be devoted to supporting young farmers. “Not aspirationally, not [on a] voluntary [basis], but [in a] binding [way]”, she insisted (see EUROPE 13739/20).
The MEP also called for addressing the two main obstacles faced by young farmers: access to land and access to finance.
She noted that the average age of farmers in the European Union has now reached 57, a figure she believes is even higher in many regions, including in her own country. Young farmers also face a financing gap of around €14 billion, while the number of farm managers under 35 has fallen by 47% over the past 15 years.
The draft report therefore calls for the swift and optimised implementation of the EU Land Observatory, as well as stronger national measures to facilitate access to agricultural land. Ms Walsh also advocates for the creation of suitable financial instruments, including low-interest loans, guarantees and effective risk-management tools, to help farmers cope with growing market and climate volatility.
In addition, support for mental health, replacement services and measures aimed at improving work-life balance “must be formed in our response”, she added.
The draft report “is generally a step in the right direction”, Éric Sargiacomo (S&D, French) said, because it promotes an integrated approach that links the CAP to access to land, financing, farm transfers, education, training and services in rural areas.
Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, Czech) supported the proposal for mandatory capping and degressivity of direct payments. “If we continue to waste public money by fuelling the profits of the largest farms, young farmers will remain excluded from access to land and capital and they will not enter the profession”, she said.
Link to the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/m5e (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)