EU Commissioner: European Commission’s agriculture and food roadmap guarantees EU food security

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The roadmap aims to shape the future of Europe’s agriculture and food sector in partnership with representatives of the sectors concerned, the Commissioner said in a plenary debate in the European Parliament. The Commissioner stressed that agriculture, fisheries and the food industry are strategic sectors that must be preserved across the continent. “European food sovereignty is an integral part of the EU’s security agenda,” he said. He stressed that policies will continue to support farmers and the agri-food sector in producing safe food and protecting rural landscapes, traditions and livelihoods. The European Commission also aims to ensure that policy decisions are tailored to local needs and to develop pragmatic solutions in collaboration with the sector. He said the roadmap calls for an attractive and predictable agri-food sector that provides fair livelihoods and new income opportunities for farmers. This will require helping the sector to make the most of its income sources and to help farmers achieve better market returns. The review of unfair trading practices will also play a key role, he added. The Commissioner stressed that maintaining support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is crucial to safeguard farmers’ incomes

The Commission aims to simplify and better target CAP support so that it reaches farmers most in need

He also announced that a strategy will be prepared in 2025 to promote generational renewal, as only 12 percent of new farmers are under 40, which in his opinion poses a serious challenge in terms of food security and sovereignty. He also drew attention to the need to prevent dangerous pesticides banned in the EU from returning to the EU through imported products. According to Csaba Dömötör, a Fidesz MEP, in the presented roadmap “behind the high-sounding goals there are plans that European farmers will not be happy about. We have a strong suspicion that they would cut agricultural subsidies citing external circumstances, such as Ukraine’s EU membership, and that this intention is being wrapped in blunt terms,” ​​he said. In his opinion, when the committee talks about targeted subsidies and subsidies based on the need principle, it actually means that not all farmers would receive subsidies, not as many as they currently do. “In addition, if we interpret the plans correctly, they would merge agricultural funds with other sources, which would hide the fact that they want to reduce the support amounts,” he added. According to Csaba Dömötör, “it is thought-provoking that the plans included in the proposal are mostly welcomed by the so-called civil organizations that are funded by the European Commission, while farmers are not. Nearly 250 thousand people in Hungary have signed a petition in favor of area-based support. Let their voices be heard too!” – the representative drew attention.

MTI