Agriculture appears six times in the 30-pages programme of the newly appointed President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Ms von der Leyen is committed to strengthening the dialogue for “competitive and resilient” agriculture and food systems. Within the first 100 days of her term of office, the Commission’s President undertakes to present a new […]
The national debates that took place during the European elections will now converge to Brussels. The 720 elected MEPs who have made commitments in each of their countries will arrive with a patchwork of ideas. It will now be a challenge to transform those ideas into a common programme and a collective vision for agriculture. See […]
Nobel laureates and scientific coalitions call on the European Parliament to embrace new genomic techniques for climate and food security. Within the EU, debates intensify over proposals to patent gene-edited plant. EP adopted its negotiating position while the Council’s presidency is still anxious to build a majority to adopt its position on NGTs which would […]
Today, Farm Europe presents its Sustainable Food Systems Indicator (*) at the opening of the 7th Global Food Forum, in Brussels, in presence of David Clarinval, Vice Prime Minister and minister for Agriculture representing the Belgium Presidency of the Council, Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, Member of the European Parliament, former Prime […]
With 307 votes in favour 263 against and 41 abstentions the report on the legal framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGT) was approved by the European Parliament. This is good news that will give farmers new tools to adapt to climate change and use less chemicals. However, the European Parliament voted for a position that […]
One of the causes of farmers’ distress often mentioned in protests in recent days is the excessive bureaucracy they have to deal with to access CAP funds. Farmers feel that Brussels dictates to farmers how to cultivate and raise livestock. This feeling is certainly well-grounded considering recent policy developments both at EU and national levels. […]
Farmers are demonstrating their dismay all over Europe, exhausted by standards and financially drained, while the value of CAP compensation payments has fallen by almost 40% in 20 years, with inflation doing the work of undermining them. Ahead of the farmers’ protests in Brussels, the European Commission tried to clear the way with a few […]
The President of the European Commission today launched the work of the strategic dialogue on agriculture. This debate comes at the end of the current European Commission’s term of office, and in a very special context. Across the European Union, more than 16 countries have been affected by large-scale agricultural protests in less than 18 […]
Brussels, 23rd January 2024 – Yesterday’s discussions held at the EU AGRIFISH Council on the “CAP´s role in safeguarding high quality and primary farm-based food production” based on the note from the Austrian, French and Italian Delegations supported by many delegations, is in line with the recent statement by the European Parliament: the Novel food […]
Since 2019, the Covid crisis and the war in Ukraine have put agriculture and food sovereignty back at the forefront, including in political speeches. This renewed interest in agriculture has not, however, been translated into strong actions in support of a sector facing the tangible effects of climate change and fierce international competition. Farmers’ protests […]