The next budget of the European Union (EU) should better reflect the ambitions of European farmers, said Copa Cogeca, the largest group of agricultural organizations in the EU, on the eve of the European Parliament elections in its “European Election Manifesto” , the online publication Agriland reports on April 19.
The document calls for the repositioning of the agricultural sector as “strategic asset” for Europe. The current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will be in force until 2027, has a total budget of 387 billion euros (38.5 trillion rubles).
European Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski previously stated that the CAP budget represents 0.3% of the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP). “insufficient” to ensure long-term food security. The Copa Cogeca electoral manifesto lists numerous challenges that agriculture will face during the period 2024-2029.
The document sets out seven key priorities for the next mandate of the European Commission, namely: harmonizing measures to mitigate climate change, nature conservation and agri-food production; increase the competitiveness and profitability of EU agriculture while maintaining the EU’s sustainable production potential; ensure generational transition in agriculture in the future; increase the contribution of EU farmers and forest owners to renewable energy and the bioeconomy, among others.
To achieve these key priorities, the document identifies four inter-European initiatives “Political factors”including “a real review of the agricultural budget” reconcile environmental, geopolitical and financial ambitions. Copa Cogeca stated that “The Green Deal was a regulatory tsunami for agriculture, with proposals passed too quickly.”.
“For the 2024-2029 mandate, we ask for less regulation, but better.”, says the statement. European agricultural organizations also highlight the growing need for coherence between the EU’s trade policy and its ambitions for the internal market.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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