Spain leads 20 Member States' call for a strong and independent CAP

 

The Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, louis planes, has spearheaded a joint initiative of 20 Member States of the European Union to request the European Commission to Robust Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with institutional autonomy and adequate funding. The request, formalized through a letter, seeks to ensure the future of the key policy for the European agri-food sector.

 

The letter, addressed to the Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, Piotr Serafin, and copied to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Christophe Hansen, was signed by ministers from countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Poland and 15 other Member States, in addition to SpainIt emphasizes the need for an "autonomous, independent and strategic" CAP in the lead-up to the next negotiations. Multiannual Financial Framework (MFP) scheduled for July.

 

The signatories highlight the CAP's vital contribution to food security, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers, maintaining social cohesion in rural areas, and promoting environmental sustainability throughout the EU.

 

The ministers of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Spain sign the joint declaration.

A Two-Pillar CAP to Address Challenges

 

In the face of the complex challenges facing the European UnionIn areas such as climate change adaptation, market volatility, and generational renewal in the agricultural sector, the ministers emphasize that the next financial framework must prioritize an independent CAP. The goal is to ensure the sustainable competitiveness of the agricultural sector, meet society's expectations, and achieve social cohesion objectives.

 

The ministers emphasize the importance of maintaining the two fundamental pillars of the CAP:

   

Direct Aid: Considered essential to guaranteeing income support for farmers and ranchers, especially in the current global geopolitical context.
 

Rural Development Measures: Essential for halting depopulation in rural areas, promoting the modernization and innovation of farms and rural infrastructure, and for environmental protection.

 

In this regard, the letter emphasizes the need for a credible CAP backed by a sufficient budget. It refers to the European Commission's own "Vision for Food and Agriculture," which recognizes the strategic importance of agricultural policy in relation to climate action, food security, and technological advancement, requiring robust and predictable financial support. Finally, the ministers stress the importance of farmers and livestock breeders being key players in the design and implementation of this fundamental policy for the sector.