1. Position of the European Farmers on the changes and news within the new CAP 2014-2020
François GUERIN | Second National Farmers meeting in Bulgaria 6 February 2014

2. Copa – European farmers
Who are Copa and Cogeca?
Copa – European farmers
56 EU farmers’ organisations, 11 million farmers
Cogeca – European agri-cooperatives
33 EU agricultural cooperative organisations, cooperatives

3. Who are Copa and Cogeca?
Copa-Cogeca’s mission
Defending the general interests of agriculture
Maintaining and developing relations with EU-institutions as well as with representative organisations at EU level
Finding solutions that are in the common interest

4. How is Copa-Cogeca organised?
The Praesidium
Composed of the Presidents of the Member Organisations (70)
Copa and Cogeca each have a Praesidium, Presidency and a President:
Albert Jan Maat (NL)
Current Copa President
Christian Pèes (FR)
Current Cogeca President

5. How does Copa-Cogeca lobby?
European Commission
European Parliament
European Parliament
Copa-Cogeca
Council of Ministers

6. Challenges for European farmers

7. Global challenges to agriculture...
Growing demand for agricultural products:
Change in dietary patterns (higher quality protein)
Food/feed/non-food opportunities (e.g. bio-economy, energy)
Agricultural production under increasing pressure:
Increasing strain on limited natural resources
Climate change:
Increasing risk of extreme weather events
Long-term changes in climate
Plant and animal health status (lack of adequate tools for prevention, control and eradication of new emerging diseases/pests)
=>
Maintain viable farm production in Europe
& adapt to and mitigate climate change

8. … and how to take these in, too!
Challenges of growth and employment in the overall economy - competitiveness and profitability via investments and innovation
Cost-price squeeze
Competition with third countries as a result of increasing trade liberalisation
High regulatory production standards - food safety, animal welfare and environment
EU dependence on imports from third countries which do not apply the same standards
Unbalanced and unfair functioning food chain

9. Is the new CAP able to respond to these challenges?

10. Did CAP reform respond?
Need to further improve the environmental sustainability of farming in an effective, practical & fair way:
Mandatory greening may bring some environmental benefits, but with high costs & increased bureaucracy
Inefficient to impose the same requirements on 12 million farms in very diverse situations (e.g. crop diversification)
Implementation should not restrict production on as much as 5% of land when the world needs more food
The freezing of farmers’ production options on 95% of all land currently under permanent grassland is too rigid and ignores reality

11. Did CAP reform respond?
Encourage “green growth” - measures to improve environmental sustainability that at the same reinforce farmers’ economic position (e.g. greater resource efficiency):
Integrate environmental protection and the production process
Greater flexibility for MSs to use RD measures for this purpose
No specific measures to encourage green growth
Need of EU list of measures so that farmers can make choice based on their own farm situation

12. Did CAP reform respond? Generation renewal:
Provides additional assistance for young entrants accompanied by measures to improve the long-term profitability of the sector
Small farmers’ scheme:
Voluntary scheme, given the different structures from one Member State to another
Eligibility for payments under this scheme should be restricted to active farmers
Coupled payments:
We accept the need to maintain the possibility to make limited coupled payments
Member States should be free to identity the sectors to benefit rather than specifying a list of eligible sectors at EU level

13. Did CAP reform respond?
Improve farmers’ economic position and reduce farmers’ dependency on DPs:
Decreasing DPs, but not matched with measures to improve farmers’ share of income from the market
Strengthen farmers and agri-cooperatives’ position in the food chain:
POs and IBOs may contribute partially to enhance farmers’ position in the food chain, but further action needed
Important to strengthen farmers’ position in the food chain by ensuring fair commercial practices and by establishing the conditions for sectors to become organised

14. Main conclusions of the process
EU institutional commitment to the CAP – evolution, not revolution, reasonable allocation of EU funds on agriculture -
European Parliament took constructive part in the process
Maintenance of the COMMON policy approach is becoming increasingly difficult – to avoid distortions of competition
In implementation of this reform and in particular in preparation for the next policy decision, emphasis must be put onto:
Competitiveness
Innovation
Investment

15. Thank you for your attention!