Today, Mr Juha Marttila, president of the MTK (the Finnish Central Union of Agricultural Producers and
Forest Owners), finalised the membership agreement between the MTK and the think tank FARM EUROPE, in Brussels.
Mr Marttila said: « Agriculture and food are core responsibilities of the European Union both via the Common Agricultural Policy and also through many regulations that impact upon rural business. Within a complex and fast changing world, it’s important to invest not only in short term priorities but also to take the time to reflect on and prepare future strategies proactively, at European level, if we want the European Union to keep its position as a world leader in terms of both competitiveness and sustainability of the farming sector. That is what Farm Europe is about and the MTK is delighted to actively participate in this thinking process. »
Mr Yves Madre, co-Founder of Farm Europe, said : « We welcome the MTK as a new member and important contributor to the think tank. This cooperation will strengthen the understanding and the capacity of the think tank to analyse the challenges faced by EU agri-food systems in the northern part of the European Union.The cooperation with the MTK and its representatives will also allow the think tank to develop stronger relations with research institutes in Finland. »
Farm Europe is committed to developing thinking on efficient ways to activate policy levers at EU level to increase both the competitiveness and the sustainability of the EU farming and food sectors and to step into the debate with concrete proposals. The think tank focuses on all policy areas that impact on rural business with a strong emphasis on agriculture and food policies, particularly the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but also food standards, the food chain, environment, energy and trade issues.
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Twitter: @FarmEurope
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info@farm-europe.eu
Author: Farm Europe
The UK’s General Election and the Common Agricultural Policy
Tomorrow’s UK election is a pivotal time for the agriculture sector, the outcome will have varying impacts upon the future of farming in the UK. The Conservatives, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party and UKIP have all discussed the Common Agricultural Policy in their 2015 manifestos, and have highlighted the significance of farming and agriculture.
The Conservatives have stated in their manifesto that they ‘will push for further reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy’. As part of this, they note that they ‘will push for high animal welfare standards to be incorporated into international trade agreements and into reform of the Common Agricultural Policy… We will ban wild animals in circuses and press for all EU member states to ensure that animals are only sent to slaughterhouses that meet high welfare standards’. Along with this promise of a reform push, the party have also noted that they ‘will help consumers buy British by pushing for country of origin labelling in Europe, particularly for dairy products…’. Despite the proposed CAP reform, the party notes that they ‘will spend £3 billion from the Common Agricultural Policy to enhance England’s countryside over the next five years’. The full Conservative manifesto can be found here here: https://www.conservatives.com/manifesto
The Green Party’s manifesto states that the party will ‘seek to reform the Common Agricultural Policy and reform our national agri-environment schemes to prioritise and support farmers who farm sustainably and enhance biodiversity on farmed land with a variety of farming styles, methods and scales’, as well as this the party pledges the promotion of ‘landscape-scale conservation, using reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, improved agri-environment schemes and the planning system. In particular, all farm payments should be designed to protect the soil, reduce flood risk, conserve wildlife, improve water quality, increase recreation and assist carbon capture’. Find the full Green Party manifesto here: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/we-stand-for/2015-manifesto.html
In the main Labour manifesto the party notes that they too will encourage reform of the CAP, ‘Labour will focus on the completion of the single market and tougher budget discipline, including on those items where spending at the EU level can save money at the national level. That means driving reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and a Commission-led zero-based review of spending on EU agencies to reduce waste and inefficiency’. Labour has also produced a separate rural manifesto. Within the separate manifesto there is no specific mention of the CAP. The party does state, though, that it ‘is clear that British farming’s best interest means remaining in the EU’ and that it ‘will champion farming in the EU to get the best for our farmers, including through better country-of-origin labelling’. Labour’s full manifesto can be found here: http://www.labour.org.uk/manifesto The rural manifesto can be found here: http://press.labour.org.uk/post/117595879344/labour-launches-rural-manifesto-and-pledges-to
In the Liberal Democrat manifesto the party states their desire for ‘continued reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, eliminating the remaining production and export subsidies and supporting the development of environmentally sustainable solutions to growing demand for food’. Further to this, the manifesto notes that they will ‘ensure farming support is concentrated on sustainable food production, conservation and tackling climate change, shifting CAP payments to the active farmer rather than the landowner’. Additionally, The Lib Dems state that they will work towards ‘reducing the proportion of the EU budget spent on the Common Agricultural Policy’. The manifesto also pledges to ‘work at EU level to ensure clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling on meat, meat products, milk and dairy products’. Find the full Liberal Democrat manifesto here: http://www.libdems.org.uk/read-the-full-manifesto
Within the Plaid Cymru manifesto the party states that it ‘will continue to support the Common Agricultural Policy that supports Welsh farming’. This is reiterated elsewhere in the manifesto, ‘we support the continuation of the Common Agricultural Policy that keeps over 80% of Welsh farms in business with direct payments. We opposed the maximum transfer of funds from Pillar One to Pillar Two. This took over a quarter of a billion pounds directly out of Wales’ rural economy’. Plaid Cymru also promise that they will ‘ensure that the Common Agricultural Policy works for Welsh farmers and that all farmers receive the fullest Basic Payment by 1st December 2015’. The Plaid Cymru manifesto can be found here: https://www.partyof.wales/2015-manifesto/?force=1
The Scottish National Party’s manifesto says that they ‘will look to secure a fair share of the UK’s CAP convergence uplift, which comes to the UK as a result of Scotland’s low hectare rates’. As well as this, the SNP pledges to ‘urge the UK government to work with the European Commission to deliver a simplified CAP, in particular with a review of direct payments and Greening, in line with proposals in the Brian Pack report to reduce red tape. We will also continue to press the Agriculture Commissioner to ensure Scottish farmers get clarity and certainty over the implementation arrangements for the new CAP’. Find the SNP manifesto here: http://www.snp.org
The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) advocates leaving the EU, and thus severing ties with the CAP. The UKIP manifesto states that ‘outside the EU, free of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and excessive regulations, we will be able to introduce fairer, simpler ways to support farmers’. Find the full UKIP manifesto here: http://www.ukip.org/manifesto2015
Key points of Joost Korte’s introductory comments at Farm Europe’s launch debate
Joost Korte, Deputy Director General at the European Commission,
outlined the key challenges ahead for the EU agriculture and food sector and explained how important the on-going changes, driven by President Jean-Claude Juncker, are. These changes relate to the structure of the new Commission, its working methods and priorities . Under the lead of Vice-president Timmermans, each Commissioner is instructed to undertake a critical assessment of policies and to ask the question as to whether such policies are absolutely essential at European level. Further, before any new major initiative, a consultation process and analysis phase has to be undertaken before a proposal could formally be adopted by the Commission, this takes up to 42 months. As such the Juncker Commission has defined the European Union’s key priorities with three key words – growth, jobs and investments. Continue reading “Key points of Joost Korte’s introductory comments at Farm Europe’s launch debate”
A new perspective on EU agri-food systems
Today, the new think tank Farm Europe held its launch event with delegates from organisations representing the diversity of stakeholders involved in the European food chain as well as officials from the 3 institutions – European Parliament, European Commission and European Council.
The launch event provided an opportunity to present Farm Europe’s vision of the challenges to come for the European agri-food sector. As an introduction to the debate on the future of EU farming as a whole, Mr. Joost Korte, Deputy Director General at the European Commission, was invited to give his views on the state of play for EU agriculture. The launch event has thus provided the Framework For Action programme that Farm Europe will embark on for 2015.
Farm Europe’s thinking process will be the responsibility of a team of well known experts in agriculture, food, environment and trade policies, namely:
- Joao Pacheco – Former Deputy Director General in DG AGRI. Joao has held multiple top-level positions in the European Commission in DG AGRI. He has also served as European Union Ambassador to Brazil. Joao has extensive experience in multilateral and bilateral trade relations. He brings over 30 years of top European government trade and agriculture policy as well as private sector experience.
- Lars Hoelgaard – Former Deputy Director General in DG AGRI. He worked in the Danish Ministry of Agriculture before joining the Commission. Lars has served the European Commission for many years in different positions, being a key player in the horizontal and sectorial reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). For the last few years, Lars has worked as Special Advisor to the EU Commissioner for Climate Action.
- Yves Madre – Yves is an agronomist and economist. He was senior advisor to European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development during the last CAP reform. Before that Yves worked in the French Ministry of Agriculture in Paris, and advised food companies and governments in London, Brussels, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. He has an in-depth knowledge of international negotiations, agriculture and food policies.
- Luc Vernet – Luc has lived in Brussels since 2010. CFPJ graduated (Journalism, Paris), he also holds an MSc in History. He served the European Commission as Speechwriter to the Commissioner for agriculture and rural development. Before that he worked as a journalist, both in Paris and Brussels, reporting on EU affairs with a special focus on food, environment and agriculture.
- More experts will be joining Farm Europe in due course.
The think tank will work with organisations which strongly believe that the European project needs to be further developed – not dismantled – and that sustainability can go hand in hand with economic ambition. Agriculture and food policies are key levers to create sustainable growth and jobs for the EU.
Farm Europe gathers expertise from public and private organisations and companies that are willing to invest in future ideas to strengthen, modernise and develop further common EU policies that impact upon agriculture and food systems – energy, sanitary and health issues, environment, agriculture, climate and trade aspects. These policies have been central to the European project since the 1960s and are necessary to evolve towards more effectiveness and to stick to the reality of a fast changing world.
Farm Europe will start working on 5 key topics in relation to EU food systems: growth, sustainability, resilience, the food chain and trade.
FOLLOW US :
Twitter: @FarmEurope
Website: www.farm-europe.eu
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Farm Europe FAQs
What is Farm Europe?
Farm Europe is a multicultural think tank that aims to stimulate thinking on rural economies in the European Union and offer an informal platform to all economic, institutional and academic actors that are interested in:
- the future of the EU agricultural sector & the food chain;
- building together and sharing forward looking ideas for an efficient and ambitious EU agenda & political framework.
The think tank focuses on all policy areas that have an impact on rural business with a strong emphasis on agriculture and food policies, and especially the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is the main public lever for action at the European level. It also focuses on food standards, the food chain, environment, energy and trade issues.
Why do we need it?
In the context of a European Union with 28 Member States, and taking into account institutional changes, the think tank is a place:
- to reflect proactively on the future in order to close the time gap between the EU decision making process and thinking on policies that have an impact on the agri-food sector, with the support of experts having an in-depth knowledge of EU institutions and policies ;
- to strengthen contacts and informal exchanges with European partners involved in the future of the agri-food sector and who share the same European ambition: farmers organisations, cooperatives, private companies, EU institutions & scientists.
Who stimulates the thinking of the think tank?
Members of the think tank are fully involved in the working process and are supported by a team of 4 main “animators”:
- Joao Pacheco, former Deputy Director General of DG AGRI (European Commission) oversees and stimulates the debate on all the trade related topic.
- Lars Hoelgaard, former Deputy Director General of DG AGRI, and special advisor to the Climate Action Commissioner.
- Yves Madre, ex Senior advisor to the Commissioner for Agriculture – coordinates the work of the think tank with a special focus on the Common Agricultural Policy and agricultural markets.
- Luc Vernet, former journalist and Speechwriter to the Commissioner for Agriculture – general coordination of the work of the think tank with a special focus on the dissemination of the think tank’s thinking.
How do we work?
The work of the think tank is materialized in:
- Policy briefings (produced by the animators and members of the think tank when they want and have the expertise to feed the debate) ;
- Internal events to feed the debates with expertise and confront ideas (once a month) and high level events for presidents of member organisations;
- Political recommendations – to be developed with the members;
- Events and campaigns to stimulate the debate, promote the ideas of the think tank and engage specific NGOs dealing with specific matters (envi/animal welfare, etc) with the debates.
To know more about Farm Europe, read our section “The Concept”
A project with a view
“You have a great project, I have a great office location”.
This is how we found a wonderful location for Farm Europe – at 9 Rond-Point Schuman. Actually, after putting down the phone, we realized that we hadn’t told Marion (our new landlord) anything at all about Farm Europe ! Meeting such guardian angels is a good example of how things have progressed as we have developed the think tank, as well as of how easy it is for people talk to each other in Brussels!
How did we get here ?
Well, we embarked on a “Tour d’Europe” to develop the concept, to find partners and to test our initial feeling that a real need for a new forum devoted exclusively to reflection on the EU’s agricultural policy does indeed exist. The future of our food & of our rural areas deserves no less ! And from the four corners of Europe we have received the same feedback : we do need a new forum to connect people interested in a pro-European project for food and agriculture – a place where participants can transcend divisions over ‘technicalities’ – a place where it is possible to take the time to focus together on what the future of EU food systems should look like and on how EU policy can help.
This is what Farm Europe is about.
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who have believed in this initiative from its very beginning, to all those who have shared their ideas, advice and ambition with us. Our door is open to anyone who wishes to make a contribution to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy – and to all the EU’s policies that affect our food and our farming sector – including human and plant health issues, energy, climate, trade, and so on.
Farm Europe’s expertise will grow as its network of members and partners expands.
Together, let’s forge our future, let’s reconcile ambition and realism, let’s develop ideas and share them, let’s rise to the challenge !
No ready-made ideas
Farm Europe does not have ready made ideas to drop into the debate. Farm Europe is about a process: bringing stakeholders, experts, and decision-makers that are interested in exchanging ideas for the future of our food, our agriculture and our rural economies around the same table.
To start with its agenda, Farm Europe will first ask a lot of questions ! Good solutions can only emerge when asking the right questions. The think tank’s team has prepared, and will continue to prepare, policy briefing putting questions into the debate, then stimulating its members and partners so as to mobilise their expertise and generate relevant, sustainable and forward looking solutions.
European policies in the field of agriculture are the so-called “traditional business” of the EU institutions. But not an out-dated matter. On the contrary! Farm Europe might shake up the debate to modernise the thinking of these “traditional policies” so that they emerge as a real new opportunity for Europe and fully relevant to the new Europe that is emerging.
Key figures to launch the debate
For our first policy briefing, we look at European agri-food trade and the surrounding data, policies, trends and trajectories.
Key figures are always a good start to ask the key questions. Read our briefing « The keys to continuous and sustainable growth of the EU food chain » in the section “our work”, under “food chain”.
Or if you want to clic here !