EP towards recognising the strategic role of agriculture and food in the ECF

Farm Europe and Eat Europe are closely following negotiations on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and welcome the positive progress made in the European Parliament, with the aim to increasingly recognise the strategic role of agriculture and the entire agri-food chain in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and security.

From the very beginning of the legislative process, as Farm Europe and Eat Europe we suggested amendments aimed at ensuring that agriculture, food and the broader bioeconomy remain at the heart of the ECF. These efforts have shown to be fundamental in preventing attempts to marginalise the sector by removing its dedicated place within both the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe.

After a difficult start, with some ideas within Itre committee proposing to dilute agriculture within a broader chapter on so-called “Sustainable Prosperity”, the discussions now emerging among negotiators in the ITRE Committee represents an encouraging step in the right direction. It reflects a growing recognition that agriculture and food are not only beneficiaries of competitiveness policies, but essential drivers of Europe’s industrial strength, innovation capacity, strategic autonomy and economic resilience.

As negotiations continue, it is now essential to build on this momentum by ensuring that agriculture and the entire agri-food value chain receive the recognition they deserve through dedicated funding opportunities across the relevant ECF priorities. Investments supporting the digital transition, clean energy, sustainable water management, strategic stockpiling, innovation and industrial transformation are indispensable to unlock the sector’s full potential and close the existing investment gap.

The European Parliament now has the opportunity to send a strong political signal by confirming agriculture and food as strategic pillars of the European Competitiveness Fund. We encourage all political groups to confirm these first positive outcomes in the final report. It is crucial that the European Parliament’s final position reflects the AGRI Committee’s recommendations and ensures greater alignment with the Commission’s proposals and the Council’s position, recognising the strategic importance of the sector and the need for dedicated support to enable it to continue driving Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability and security.