| Strengthening the position of the farmers in the value chain, the need to boost innovation in rural areas whilst making them more liveable as well as the role of regions in managing funds for local needs were the key points raised by EPP-CoR members during a debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with Mr Burtscher, Director-General European Commission, DG Agriculture and Rural Development.
Mark Weinmeister, Secretary of State for European Affairs, Land of Hesse said that we need to discuss how farmers could work in a more ecological way but also how to ensure a proper income for farmers. Many farmers need the payments from CAP, but they would prefer having sustainable prices for their products in the market. They often feel alone as more and more is requested from them without an increase in their income. We have to avoid a situation whereby farmers give up on their businesses due to the ever-increasing pressures. Radim Sršeň, Member of Dolní Studénky Municipal Council spoke on the need to support young farmers and people to stay in rural areas and the need to unlock the potential of research and innovation to create jobs in rural areas. Sršeň who is 2nd Vice-Chair of the NAT Commission said “Changes in CAP such as the European Green Deal are positive but we should not forget about the people living in rural areas because rural areas and rural development are also about the people. We should make sure to take measures to ensure good standards of quality of life in rural areas and do anything we can to boost innovation and invest in good infrastructure rather than keeping rural areas as museums.” Vanessa Charbonneau, Vice-president of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire spoke about the crucial role of the regional authorities in the governance and implementation of the CAP. “Most of the European Regions will keep the responsibility to manage funds which will allow to answer in a more efficient way to the local needs. This will require a direct exchange with the European Commission. Therefore, the members of the AGRIREGIONS coalition together with the CoR request a meeting with the European Commission's DG AGRI" she said. Ellen Nauta-van Moorsel, Mayor of the municipality of Hof van Twente said that farmers are currently having to cope with a number of directives that have to do with sustainability. She said "Making the rural areas liveable is becoming harder." She called for stronger links between main strategies and the CAP.
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