EU Commission Concludes Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture
The EU Commission has concluded its seven-month Strategic Dialogue on agriculture and rural development, with President Ursula von der Leyen presenting the final report. It covers key topics such as the transition to sustainable agriculture, farmers’ incomes, access to land, and generational renewal.
The report highlights initiatives to improve farmers’ incomes, including a potential revision of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive, emphasizing the need for prices above production costs to support small and medium-sized farms. It also addresses the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), focusing on subsidies for small farms and market regulation, although full development of market regulation recommendations was lacking.
Generational renewal is identified as crucial for agricultural transition, along with the need for stronger public advisory systems and training in organic farming. Additionally, it suggests creating an observatory for land access and future discussions on a European Directive on Land. While the report addresses various agricultural issues, it also acknowledges ongoing debates on market competition, international trade policies, and the human rights approach to food.