EESC calls for a stronger EU Common Agricultural Policy

The European Economic and Social Committee is calling for a stronger Common Agricultural Policy to enable the agricultural sector to face up to the numerous challenges it is facing.

The European Economic and Social Committee is an advisory body representing employers, trade unions, farmers, consumers and the other interest groups that collectively make up “organised civil society”. It presents its views and defends its interests in policy discussions with the European Commission, Council and Parliament.

An opinion has just been drawn up by the NAT section (Agriculture, Rural development and Environment) of the EESC in view of the discussions currently taking place at EU level on the review of the CAP. The document puts forward a number of recommendations to the European Council and the European Parliament aimed at helping the sector face up to the challenges of food security, climate change, water scarcity, price volatility, loss of biodiversity and an aging farmer population.

Stefano Mallia, a member of the EESC who was representing Malta during the discussions said: “The report which has just been approved is a good document in that it identifies the main challenges faced by the agricultural sector and puts forward a number of proposals on how these challenges could be met. A lot of emphasis is placed on the need to ensure that farmers continue to get a decent income for their work while at the same time emphasising the need for the sector to continue to modernise its work practices.

“What is also very positive about this opinion is that it gives a lot of importance to the need to continue giving additional assistance to farmers operating in disadvantaged areas or areas with specific natural constraints. This is clearly very important for Malta and it is something which I emphasised needed to be not only maintained but strengthened,” Mr Mallia said.

The opinion, which was approved following a lively discussion which took place within the NAT section (some 45 amendments were presented to the original draft) also places emphasis on the need to continue strengthening the rural development aspect of agriculture especially in view of its very important role of custodian of the country side. A strong link is also being made between direct income support and the undertaking of green initiatives by farmers.

Mr Mallia said during the discussions that while it is clear that the agricultural sector must become more active in adopting environmental behaviour it is also true that there must be recognition of the fact that not all farmers across the 27 member states are starting from the same point of departure and therefore there must be recognition of the fact that level of environmental commitment will vary across member states.

“Furthermore every effort must be made to avoid small scale farmers being put at any kind of disadvantage and to ensure that the rules of the CAP are simplified and not complicated further,” Mr Mallia said.

Particular mention was also made of agriculture as a provider of jobs in rural areas and the need to attract young farmers to the sector. Generational renewal in agriculture is deemed to be of vital importance in view of the fact that only seven per cent of European farmers are under 35. One in three farmers in the EU is over 65 and many are due to retire in the next few years. The EESC opinion calls for a Common Agricultural Policy that will actively contribute to developing an EU-wide policy that will attract new farmers, in parallel with an ambitious and synergetic agricultural employment policy.