Press releases

Media contact: Jessica Fitch

Latest press releases

11/05/2012

Brussels

Young Farmers Should have Priority Access to Wine Planting Rights in Future, says CEJA

In January 2012, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş, set up a high level group on wine in order to assess proposals to end the current planting rights system by 2015. In response to this, the European Council of Young Farmers have published their position on the matter and call for the maintenance of all wine planting rights until a later date with priority access to the system for young farmers. Wine planting rights without priority access are currently an additional barrier to installation for young people attempting to enter the sector – CEJA considers this unacceptable in view of the current demographic crisis in European agriculture.

The wine sector is a particularly attractive one for young farmers and CEJA’s main concern with the proposals to end the current system is the danger that the retail sector may be able to control the production of wine in Europe after its liberalisation. Calling for a comprehensive impact assessment on the issue by 2018, CEJA also demands assessment on other potential supply tools for the sector and the full impact that the abolishment of planting rights could have on wine producers, including young farmers.

 The importance of Origin Labelling in the wine sector was also underlined, with young farmers insisting that this is essential for the reputation and future of European wine, and that its market management system should be enhanced.

CEJA awaits the results of the impact assessment in order to make further comment on the future of wine planting rights in Europe.

You can read the full position here.

END

10/05/2012

Brussels 

CEJA Members Gather in Brussels to Reiterate Calls to Strengthen Young Farmers Measures in both Pillars of the CAP

More than 60 young farmers from over 23 EU Member States met in Brussels on 7 and 8 May for the European Council of Young Farmer’s annual General Assembly. After discussing internal issues throughout Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning was spent debating young farmers’ measures in both Pillars of the CAP reform with informative contributions from the European Court of Auditors and MEPs McGuinness and Köstinger.

M. Cretin, Member of the European Court of Auditors, accompanied by M. Pauwels, presented the Court’s opinion on four draft CAP regulations, including on young farmers’ measures. The Court considers that “the additional direct payment to young farmers will assist them in dealing with their specific circumstances” and that payment entitlements to be available to new farmers in 2014 (in particular young farmers who are beginning their agricultural activity) should “encourage innovative and dynamic farming businesses”. Following this, Elisabeth Köstinger MEP highlighted the importance of rural development to the CAP reform, stating that the “future CAP programs have to focus on the establishment of farms and the need to invest in innovation and skills. Agriculture is a driving force for rural areas and is crucial to promote jobs and growth across Europe”.

Concluding the presentations, Mairead McGuinness said that as a Member of the European Parliament she was “committed to tackling the problem of generational renewal in agriculture", and "believes that the measures proposed in CAP reform under Pillar I must be mandatory for Member States if we are serious about addressing the low number of young farmers". McGuinness also seized the opportunity of the CEJA General Assembly to urge young farmers to maintain the pressure on their own Ministers for agriculture and elected representatives throughout the reform process in order to ensure that appropriate measures are part of the final CAP reform agreement.

These thoughts were echoed by CEJA members and President Joris Baecke, who summed up the meeting by stating that “all who strive for a sustainable agricultural sector must now support the proposed measures, so as to ensure that there will be enough farmers to deliver the objectives Europe needs for the future."

END

18/04/2012
Brussels

European Court of Auditors’ Opinion on CAP proposals: young farmers measures leave room for improvement

The European Court of Auditors’ (ECA) “Opinion (No 1/2012) on certain proposals for regulations relating to the common agricultural policy for the period 2014-2020”, adopted on 8 March 2012 and published on the ECA website yesterday, highlights several issues within the Commission’s CAP proposals. These include a lack of simplification of the policy as well as a lack of explanation of its objectives, but the ECA also incorporated a specific chapter on young farmers measures (p. 41: Young farmers).

The ECA particularly welcomed the change to prioritising the allocation of entitlements from national reserves to young farmers starting their agricultural activity, addressing worries that these could become additional barriers to entry. These were concerns raised by the Court itself in its SPS report last year. The Court also welcomed the top-up measure in Pillar I, stating that it may “encourage young farmers to start up innovative and dynamic farming businesses” – a position which is shared by the European Council of Young Farmers. Finally, the Court included a note on the national reserve year, echoing calls from President of CEJA, Joris Baecke, that the reference year of 2011 for entitlements is likely to create “new barriers to entry for new farmers”.

Joris Baecke said of the young farmers chapter in the Opinion: “The Court shares our concerns relating to the problematic reference year of 2011 for new entrants, as well as our view that young farmers should consistently be given priority in terms of entitlements from national reserves in future. Now, we call on the Council and Parliament to take this into account, and to improve the Commission’s proposals by avoiding this particular potential barrier to entry for future farmers.” 

END

12/04/2012
Brussels

Young farmers urge European decision-makers to prioritise generational renewal in the new CAP

CEJA and MEP Milan Zver hosted a roundtable event in the European Parliament today entitled “Sowing the Seeds to Harvest in Future: Supporting Young People into Farming” on the subject of generational renewal in European agriculture and young farmers measures in the CAP reform. Bringing together representatives from all three EU institutions, including a video message from Farm Commissioner Dacian Cioloş, interventions from MEPs Dess and Dantin and Jesper W. Pedersen, Chairman of the SCA, there was broad consensus on the issue of the lack of generational renewal in European agriculture and the need for substantial measures to be taken to change this.

Attended by over 150 people, including MEPs, agri-attaches, journalists and young farmers from across Europe, the roundtable was hailed a success by co-organiser MEP Milan Zver, who said of the event: “Our objective was reached. We wanted to make sure more people knew about the lack of young people in the sector and that there are solutions to remedy this problem. That is what we achieved. The CAP reform is now in the Parliament’s hands, and it is up to us to make sure that the measures included on young farmers in the Commission’s proposals are secured and improved.” Followed by a press conference, this event attracted significant attention from agri representatives across the sector, and President of CEJA, Joris Baecke used this opportunity to urge all three institutions to prioritise generational renewal in the CAP reform. Mr Baecke, speaking directly to the institutions, stated that “The future of agriculture is in your hands. We cannot wait another five years for these crucial measures, or there won’t be any European farmers left for the CAP to cover. We have highlighted the importance of the problem and proposed the appropriate solution: you must now ensure that this reform opportunity is not missed, so as to secure a competitive, productive and sustainable future for European agriculture.”

END

28/03/2012
Brussels, Belgium

CEJA calls for improvements to the Single CMO and Rural Development package proposals

At a Working Group meeting in Rome on 22 March 2012, CEJA adopted its positions on the Commission’s proposals for Market Management Measures and Rural Development. Calling for improvements to both proposals for the coming CAP reform, CEJA highlighted the importance of long term perspectives and accurate market information for young farmers, as well as a robust link to agriculture from the Rural Development programme.

CEJA concerns on the market management measures package included demands for a clearer definition of the term ‘crisis’ by the Commission, along with specific triggering criteria for the implementation of crisis management instruments, to ensure their swift and effective application in order to prevent crises as much as possible, and act effectively when they occur. Other particular issues include a new reference price for olive oil alongside a faster private storage system in this sector, and a boost for the Commission’s plans for support for producers’ organisations. On the sugar sector, CEJA judges ending the quota system by 2015 to be too soon, but calls on the EU to make it possible for farmers to reintegrate into the system if they so wish. 

On Rural Development, CEJA urges decision-makers to ensure a strong and direct link with agriculture. CEJA applauds the proposals for higher aid intensities for installation aid for young farmers and asks for the intensity rate to be made mandatory for the young farmers sub-programme. Emphasising the problem of lack of generational renewal in the sector, CEJA calls for young farmers to be considered a priority across all Rural Development measures. Finally, CEJA also calls for measures to support intergenerational cooperation and collective initiatives which aim to improve the bargaining power of farmers.

CEJA considers that these improvements will be essential for the competitiveness and productivity of young farmers, considering young farmers are the most exposed to price volatility and need a considerable increase in support, and therefore implores the Parliament and Council to take the CEJA position into account.

Please find the finalised CEJA position papers here.

END

26/03/2012
Brussels, Belgium

CEJA President Joris Baecke underlines the importance of innovation, research and long-term prospects for future farmers

Last week, CEJA President Joris Baecke spoke in a European Economic and Social Committee Conference on the subject of ‘Young farmers in the world and in the future’. Underlining the importance of young farmers to the future of European agriculture, Mr Baecke highlighted the significance of research and innovation in relation to greening and food security measures, and the need to have farmers to implement them.

The Conference, entitled “The Common Agricultural Policy… 50 years – and a lifetime ahead” took place at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels, Belgium. Speaking in the panel ‘Agriculture 50 years from now’, the President of CEJA emphasised the importance of young farmers to a variety of issues, most importantly the need for generational renewal in European agriculture to ensure an environmentally, economically and demographically sustainable future for the sector. President of the EESC, Staffan Nilsson, echoed this position, calling for measures to make the sector more attractive to new generations.

Commenting on the young farmers’ measures in the CAP, Mr Baecke stated that “The proposals, including the measures for young farmers, are a good starting point for discussion. However, they do not go far enough – the lack of generational renewal in European agriculture should not be taken lightly. We must act now to ensure a future for high quality agricultural products produced in a responsible and sustainable way in Europe.”

You can download Mr Baecke's full speech here.

END

02/03/2012
Brussels, Belgium
 

CEJA President Joris Baecke calls for improvement of Greening modalities at high-level Conference in Copenhagen

The Conference, entitled “The new CAP: the right path to sustainable farming?”, was organised by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) alongside Birdlife, a global alliance of conservation organisations. Opened by Danish Minister for Agriculture Mette Gjerskov, it focused on the role the Danish Presidency will be playing in the discussions on the legislative process of the coming CAP reform, particularly in relation to Greening measures. President Baecke spoke in the afternoon panel, taking part in the debate on “What will crop diversification, ecological focus areas and protection of permanent pastures bring for biodiversity, soil, water and climate?”

Outlining the European Council of Young Farmers’ position on the proposals to green the direct payments in the first pillar of the CAP, he called for a longer list of potential greening measures for farms to choose from, including

- Use of precision farming techniques including improving water and soil management

- Leguminous- based systems

- Farm energy- efficiency measures

- Green cover

- Buffer strips

- Permanent cultures

- Ecological features

- Crop rotation

- Permanent pasture linked to animal production.

On the subject of the essential contribution young farmers can make to a more environmentally sustainable future for European agriculture, the CEJA President stated that “Young farmers are crucial to this discussion, and we will be relying on them to implement important environmental protection and climate change mitigation measures.” Mr Baecke closed his statement by highlighting the fact that “Young farmers are committed to their duty to European society, not only by continuing to provide high quality, competitive food production, but also by doing it in a sustainable and responsible way”.

 END

25/01/2012

Brussels, Belgium

CEJA Networking Lunch on the future CAP hosted by Mairead McGUINNESS MEP

Yesterday, the European Council of Young Farmers organised a Networking Lunch in the European Parliament hosted by Mairead McGuinness MEP. The event focused on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, particularly the much-needed rejuvenation of the farming sector and specific measures relating to help for young farmers, in an attempt to temper the impending age crisis in European agriculture.

Irish MEP, Mairead McGuinness opened the lunch and welcomed the young farmers from around Europe as well as some of their MEPs to the event, before ceding the floor to CEJA President Joris Baecke. Baecke detailed CEJA’s positions and objectives in this all-important year for the coming CAP reform, highlighting the need for strong public and political support for young farmers as well as the essential need for specific measures relating to support for young farmers being secured in the CAP-2014. MEPs then discussed issues with young farmers from their own countries over lunch, creating an atmosphere of cooperation and establishing lasting links between farmers and their representatives at the European level, and giving young farmers a chance to discuss the perils of being a farmer under-40 in the sector today with their own MEPs. Several MEPs from COMAGRI took the floor throughout the lunch, including MEP Elizabeth KOESTINGER, MEP Marc TARABELLA, MEP Esther DE LANGE, MEP Astrid LULLING and MEP Liam AYLWARD, each underlining their support for young farmers, as well as highlighting their own particular priorities within the CAP reform proposals.

Summing up the event, MEP Mairead McGuinness welcomed the positive engagement between European young farmers and the European Parliament in the debate on reform of the CAP saying: "Today, we restate out commitment to young farmers who are our future. Young farmers need real and effective measures in the CAP to assist those who are willing and able to farm. The current proposals at least acknowledge the concerns of young farmers. But the proposals need to be amended in order to make a real difference to the age structure on farms in the EU.

Compulsory measures in Pillar I can compliment measures in Pillar II”, she added.

She also urged young farmers to focus on all aspects of CAP reform, “direct payments are vital but so too are effective market measures.”

"Young farmers can also lead on the environment debate”, she added.

President Joris Baecke on his part stated that “European young farmers are looking forward to closer relations with the European Parliament and support from COMAGRI in EU decision-making across a broad range of aspects of European agriculture, as well as in securing specific measures for young farmers in the coming CAP reform.”

END

23/01/2012

Brussels, Belgium

CEJA congratulates Paolo DE CASTRO MEP on his election as chair of COMAGRI

The members of the Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development today elected their chairs and vice-chairs for the next two and a half years. CEJA would like to extend our congratulations to Paolo DE CASTRO MEP on his election as chair of the committee and we are looking forward to continuing our significant collaboration with de Castro, the vice-chairs, and the rest of the members of COMAGRI, over the next two and a half years.

However, at this hugely important time for the future of European agriculture considering the coming CAP reform, CEJA also takes this opportunity to call on COMAGRI to prioritise young farmers over the course of their mandate as chairs and vice-chairs of the committee, to ensure more effective and suitable measures to temper the growing age crisis in the sector. We are at a tipping point in terms of a lack of generational renewal, and support from the European Parliament on this issue over the next two years will prove to be indispensable for the long-term future of European agriculture.

CEJA would also like to congratulate Czesław Adam SIEKIERSKI, José BOVÉ, Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI and Marit PAULSEN on their election as vice-chairs of COMAGRI – we look forward to collaborating with them on ensuring the survival of the agricultural sector we are all so invested in.

 END

13/12/2011

Brussels, Belgium

CEJA satisfied with informal agreement by Council and Parliament on dairy package

CEJA is pleased to see that the Council and Parliament reached a balanced agreement on the ‘dairy package’ on December 6, 2011.

Joris Baecke, President of CEJA, stated that "the Council and Parliament have proved that the co-decision process within the Lisbon Treaty has become a reality and is working in practice. The negotiations resulted in a balanced agreement. This is a good sign, especially in the context of the discussions on the future CAP, and the strict calendar for reaching an agreement on a new CAP starting on the 1st January 2014".

CEJA welcomes the direction of strengthening producers' organisations in the dairy sector and the provision whereby the volume that a PO can negotiate represents up to 33% of the national production of the Member States involved. Initiatives to strengthen the position of farmers in the food chain should be encouraged. Farmers who are not part of a cooperative will still be able to join forces in a producer organisation and benefit from tools to better promote their role in the food chain.

Baecke further stressed that "discussions need to continue however on the definition of the relevant market. This notion is key and will be determinant to make the reform in the dairy market a success".

END

23/11/2011

Brussels, Belgium

CEJA President calls for future CAP to invest in farmers of the future to address the current age crisis

Speaking today at a conference organized at the European Parliament at the initiative of the Polish Presidency on the future CAP, CEJA President Joris Baecke called on decision-makers to endorse a strong CAP investing in farmers of the future.

President Baecke stressed the great challenge and possible threat for European Agriculture, caused by rural exodus, a rapidly ageing population and lack of young people entering the sector. Baecke stated “Agriculture is all about investing in the future. He added ‘European agriculture is in an age crises, and it is just the tip of the ice-berg”. The CAP has to strongly invest in the farmers of the future. We need to act now” to correct the demographic unbalances.

Joris Baecke acknowledged the right direction taken in the legislative proposal to prioritize renewal of generation in both first and second pillar of the CAP. Joris Baecke however called for improvement of the proposals, in particular for the full 2% of the national envelope in the first pillar to be used. He called for flexibility to be given to Member States on implementation, provided that minimum 2% is fully used. Regarding 2011 as the reference year to apply for entitlements from 2014 onwards, Joris Baecke stressed that this provision should not create a barrier to apply for entitlements for young farmers in the future. On second pillar, he welcomed the proposal in the legislative proposal for a preferential ratio of co-financing.

“Looking towards the future, next to the great urgency for generational renewal, there is a continuous need for a sustainable agriculture production”, CEJA President continued. While supporting the greening of the first pillar, he noted that CEJA believes that it should be an opt-in option for farmers. “To reach the strongest commitment from the farming community and achieve the best result, greening should be done on a voluntary basis”, Baecke stated.

In addition, the three measures put forward do neither answer environmental challenge nor the diversity of European diversity. Instead CEJA calls for a ‘wider menu’ of measures to be made available, meeting both the request to increase biodiversity and mitigating climate change and the request for productivity and competitiveness. President Baecke instead listed a menu including precision farming technics, improving water and soil management and farm energy efficiency measures could help manage the needs of the future. “Any fixed percentage of ecological focus area at farm level is counterproductive and not answering the real sustainability challenge. It will in many cases lead to a plain set-aside and this is absolutely not in line with the greater demand of food”.

END

12/10/2011

Brussels, Belgium

CEJA welcomes measures for young farmers in the proposed CAP but calls for improvement and endorsement

CEJA, the European Council of Young Farmers, welcomes the measures for young farmers included in both Pillars of the proposed CAP package, presented today by Commissioner Dacian Cioloş. CEJA gladly notes that generational renewal in agriculture is considered a priority and that the proposed package acknowledges that the EU needs to take appropriate measures to answer the special needs of young farmers across Europe.

CEJA strongly calls on the European Parliament and Council to endorse and enforce the position adopted by the Commission.

On measures for young farmers in the first pillar:

CEJA welcomes the measures for young farmers in the first pillar, since the income of young farmers during the first five years of start-up is very sensitive to price volatility.

The 25% top up on the average value of payment entitlements held by young farmers for the first five years after installation is a good starting point for discussion. CEJA calls for the top up to represent a minimum of 2%, and up to 3%, of the national envelope. That percentage would cover the increasing applications coming from young farmers in the years after the reform.

Moreover, CEJA calls for the capping level for top up payments to be increased to 50 hectares. Young farmers tend to run larger farms than the average national farm size, and the threshold for the top up should reflect this.

In addition, if Member States do not fully use the minimum percentage of the national budget for the top, they should be able to either increase the number of hectares as a basis for the top up, or the percentage of the top up, in order to meet the minimum percentage of the national envelope.

On measures for young farmers in the second pillar:

It is of upmost importance for the competitiveness and sustainability of European agriculture that the number of installations is increased and the farm take-over process speeded up across the EU. CEJA therefore calls for a favorable ratio of co-financing of 80% coming from the EU and 20% from the national envelope.

Joris Baecke, President CEJA commented “Today’s proposed reform provides a real opportunity to attract young people into agriculture. I strongly call on the European Parliament and the European Council to improve the measures put forward in the proposal and to endorse them. Europe needs to invest in its Young Farmers”.

 END

30/09/2011

Brussels, Belgium

Commissioner Dacian Cioloş formally opens CEJA photo expo

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş today formally opened the CEJA photo exhibition "Putting a face to food, know the farmer behind the product".

Speaking at the exhibition Commissioner Cioloş stated that “Young farmers are passionate about their job and the agriculture sector and this is well demonstrated by this photo exhibition. As Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, one of my priorities has been young farmers This priority is not just theoretical, but also concrete, as measures for young farmers in second pillar but also in first pillar of the CAP will be included in the legislative package.‟‟

CEJA President Joris Baecke stated that “This exhibition showcases the dynamism and motivation of European young farmers in the sector. We are proud and passionate about our profession and this is reflected in the photos. We also believe that the exhibition will draw the attention of the general public and decision-makers on the need to strongly support young entrepreneurs entering the sector, especially in the first years after installation”.

The photo exhibition is taking place in the Berlaymont Building from the 26th September to the 13th October, and will then continue its tour of the European Union throughout 2012.

The CEJA Young Farmers photo exhibition can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CEJA-Young-Farmers-Photo-Exhibition/195027250563955

END

Past press releases: