‘Reform CAP to meet challenges of food security, growth and jobs’

THE EU needs a better tailored, reformed Common Agricultural Policy, to answer the challenges of food security, growth and jobs in rural areas.

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Ciolos was speaking during his first official trip in his new capacity to Spain – the country that holds the presidency of the EU Council for the first half of the year.

He said European agriculture must address the demands of the market and the expectations of society concerning public goods, the environment and climate change.

“For this, I will launch an extensive debate with the member states and all stakeholders across the EU,” he said.

Mr Ciolos said the CAP should be part of the debate on the future of Europe in the context of the 2020 Strategy.

He stressed the importance of high quality European agricultural products and the necessity to launch a more dynamic, concerted policy to promote them.

Meanwhile, Mr Ciolos, writing on his webpage, said that having worked the fields himself he knows how it feels for farmers to rely on the weather for a good crop, to despair when prices give them less than they counted on, or to rejoice in a good year.

“I understand a farmer’s longing for stability and a predictable income – and I understand that, for many of you, working in agriculture is more than just a job.

“Like all of you, I am a consumer too. And as such, I want good, healthy food at affordable prices.

“Eating healthily should not be seen as a luxury reserved for the fortunate of this world, but rather as a public good that everybody should have access to,” he said.

Pointing out that work comes with taxes, he said as a tax-payer, he wants to make sure that public money is well spent and those who use it are accountable.

“This is why I see myself accountable not only to EU member states and European Parliament, but also to each and every tax-payer in the EU.

“At the same stage, I must underline the importance I see in maintaining a strong and common agriculture policy for Europe, in order to maintain safe and sufficient food, produced at high standards, and also help our farmers to improve their structures to be more competitive,” he said.

Mr Ciolos said this will help maintain and create jobs and growth in rural areas and bolster the single market.

“In addition, I believe that policy has a role to play in allowing farmers to address the significant new challenges that we all face, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, water shortages and increased energy demand,” he said.