Copa and Cogeca underline need to avoid agricultural spending cuts

Copa and Cogeca debated in Brussels this week the future EU budget with Commissioner Oettinger and underlined the need to maintain agriculture spending at current levels, otherwise not only farmers livelihoods, our competitiveness and high quality food supplies would be threatened, but also the delivery of the EU’s environmental and social goals.

Speaking in Brussels, Copa President Martin Merrild said “Copa and Cogeca strongly disagree with any proposals to cut Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) spending in the EU budget in the future. Farmers’ incomes are already only 40% of average EU earnings and have dropped by 20% in the past four years. Yet they are the ones responsible not only for producing high quality safe food everyday which complies with tough production and welfare standards but also they are part of the solution in tackling climate change. They are also the hub of rural areas, ensuring growth and jobs often in areas where no other source of employment exists. This is one of the key priorities of the Juncker Commission”.

“Our exports are also vital for the economy and we need a CAP that supports our competitiveness in the future”, he added. Mr Merrild praised the Commissioner for his support for the agriculture sector. Commissioner Oettinger warned at the meeting of the serious challenges facing the EU, saying that Brexit will cause EU budget losses. Further to that, new priorities such as refugees, migration, security and the fight against terrorism must be addressed. But he wanted to avoid the agriculture sector becoming a victim of this and hopes to find a constructive solution to it. He urged the farming and cooperative organisations to play a strong and constructive role in the debate and to discuss it with their Ministers.

Cogeca President Thomas Magnusson went on to underline that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) contributes to delivering most of the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU. This is all at a cost of less than 1% of total EU public expenditure which is good value for money. With the world population expected to grow and with the agriculture sector really hurting, now is not the time to cut back on expenditure and jeopardize the multiple benefits of agriculture. Faced with the negative market situation in recent years, farmers and their cooperatives need sufficient support to be able to do their jobs properly. We urge Parliament, Ministers, the Commission to make sure we have a viable and sustainable agriculture sector in the future”.

For more information:
Copa Cogeca
www.copa-cogeca.eu