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The Outgoing EU Commissioner for Agriculture Confirms Current Policy: What Will the Next One Do?
EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski highlighted the current key elements of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, the community is eagerly awaiting the program of the next Commissioner.
EU Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski emphasized the current keys of CAP, which focus on security, stability, sustainability, and solidarity, supporting farmers, protecting the environment, ensuring food security, and balancing international trade requirements, with significant investments in research and innovation. What will the future CAP be like?
By eEuropa
Brussels, 22 July 2024 - 4 MINUTES READ
Brussels, 22 July 2024 - 4 MINUTES READ
The outgoing European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski has recently confirmed the continuation of current policies in the agricultural sector. As his term comes to an end, the European agricultural community is curious about the directions and decisions his successor will take.
Maintaining the continuity of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains a priority, with a particular focus on sustainability, innovation, and economic support for farmers. However, with climate change and increasing global challenges, the new Commissioner will have the difficult task of adapting and improving these policies to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for European agriculture.
The community is eagerly awaiting the program of the next Commissioner and any new strategies that might be introduced to address the emerging challenges in the sector.
Lets see how Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski highlighted the key elements of the current CAP.
1. Four S Principle
2. Specific Initiatives and Investments
3. Global Trade and Standards
4. Strategic Importance
Conclusion
The current EU Commissioner advocates for a CAP that is robust, effective, and sustainable, grounded in the principles of security, stability, sustainability, and solidarity.
While the current Commissioner justifies the existing EU policy, it is crucial that the new Commissioner considers the new requests and challenges from member states and the community. There is a growing call to reinforce EU policy, protect EU production, and support the work of farmers. This approach aims to support the future of every farmer, region, and citizen in the European Union, ensuring that the CAP remains a cornerstone of EU policy and strategic interests. By focusing on these core values and adapting to emerging needs, the CAP can address current challenges and promote long-term prosperity and resilience in the agricultural sector across Europe.
Go to EU Agricultural Policy
Maintaining the continuity of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains a priority, with a particular focus on sustainability, innovation, and economic support for farmers. However, with climate change and increasing global challenges, the new Commissioner will have the difficult task of adapting and improving these policies to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for European agriculture.
The community is eagerly awaiting the program of the next Commissioner and any new strategies that might be introduced to address the emerging challenges in the sector.
Lets see how Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski highlighted the key elements of the current CAP.
1. Four S Principle
- Security:
- Ensure the availability and affordability of food, recognizing it as the primary function of agriculture and a fundamental requirement for citizens.
- Base all future policy developments, legal regulations, and investment tools on detailed analyses of potential impacts on agricultural activities and food security.
- Stability:
- Ensure stable livelihoods for farmers and rural communities, as the CAP currently accounts for 23% of EU farm income.
- Address the significant decrease in the number of farms, with a loss of 3 million farms from 2010 to 2020, and ensure fair income for farmers, as agricultural income is only 60% of the average wage in the rest of the economy.
- Increase support levels for young, small, and mixed farmers to ensure the resilience and diversity of food production.
- Sustainability:
- Continue protecting the climate, biodiversity, and natural resources, as well as improving animal welfare.
- Acknowledge the progress made, such as the 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 while increasing productivity.
- Allocate €98 billion from the CAP (2023-2027), representing 32% of total spending, for environmental and animal welfare benefits.
- Cover 47% of EU farmland with voluntary practices of sustainable management of natural resources, with substantial efforts on soil protection.
- Adapt to the new normal of crises by improving risk management tools and strengthening the agricultural reserve to deal with extreme weather events and increased market risks.
- Invest ambitiously in research and innovation, making these investments accessible to farmers to help them overcome challenges and maximize sustainable farming opportunities.
- Solidarity:
- Support farmers and maintain contributions to global food supplies.
- Continue efforts to simplify processes and strengthen fairness in the supply chain.
- Balance solidarity with farmers and international trade partners, recognizing the different conditions and challenges faced by partners.
- Use the EU’s influence as a union of 27 countries and 450 million consumers to demand minimum environmental or animal welfare standards for imported products.
- Foster cooperation and outreach with global partners, as the EU is the world’s leading exporter of agri-food products.
2. Specific Initiatives and Investments
- Economic Support:
- Increase levels of support for young, small, and mixed farmers to enhance the resilience and diversity of food production.
- Ensure economic viability of farms as a fundamental goal.
- Environmental Commitment:
- Commit €98 billion from the CAP (2023-2027) to environmental and animal welfare benefits, covering a substantial portion of EU farmland with sustainable practices.
- Crisis Adaptation:
- Enhance risk management tools and strengthen the agricultural reserve to better handle extreme weather and market risks.
- Research and Innovation:
- Invest in research and innovation to support farmers in overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities in sustainable farming.
3. Global Trade and Standards
- Balance solidarity with farmers and international trade partners, recognizing the need for fairness and the differing conditions faced by partners.
- Use the EU’s significant influence to demand certain environmental and animal welfare standards for imported products.
- Maintain a cooperative approach with global partners, benefiting from trade as the world’s leading exporter of agri-food products.
4. Strategic Importance
- Emphasize the CAP’s vital contributions to the EU’s defensive and energy security, as food security is foundational.
- Highlight the CAP’s role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of citizens, protecting the environment, and supporting the economic development of rural and remote regions.
- Assert the CAP’s significance in reinforcing democracy by ensuring food security and maintaining good global relations through contributions to global food supplies.
- Stress the centrality of the CAP to the work of future EU policymakers, underlining its importance to the EU’s strategic interests.
Conclusion
The current EU Commissioner advocates for a CAP that is robust, effective, and sustainable, grounded in the principles of security, stability, sustainability, and solidarity.
While the current Commissioner justifies the existing EU policy, it is crucial that the new Commissioner considers the new requests and challenges from member states and the community. There is a growing call to reinforce EU policy, protect EU production, and support the work of farmers. This approach aims to support the future of every farmer, region, and citizen in the European Union, ensuring that the CAP remains a cornerstone of EU policy and strategic interests. By focusing on these core values and adapting to emerging needs, the CAP can address current challenges and promote long-term prosperity and resilience in the agricultural sector across Europe.
Go to EU Agricultural Policy
