The EU Agricultural Outlook conference, which this year has the title “The future of food and farming: food for thought”, has become the key annual gathering of European policymakers and stakeholders, providing a unique opportunity to engage and discuss the future of agriculture in Europe and the challenges which lie ahead.
During a wide-ranging interview at the Outlook Conference 2018, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan outlined why the Commission's proposal for the CAP 2021-2027 can be a "game-changer", delivering better results for European farmers and citizens alike, not least in relation to environmental protection and the climate challenge.
He said:
"A truly modern policy for food, farming and rural development has to deliver clearer and more effective results. Our proposals include important and specific EU requirements which will increase the level of environmental and climate ambition.
“We need to help young people who wish to take up farming because young farmers are the catalyst for change and modernisation and, in an increasingly global and more competitive environment, they hold the key to improving Europe’s competitive edge.
“Our trade policy, which is creating thousands of jobs annually, is contributing significantly to the growth and vitality of rural communities throughout the Union. We need to continue to support rural communities, in line with the conclusions of the Cork 2.0 Declaration.
"Our solution is a new delivery model, which redesigns not only the tools to achieve better results, but ensures that the key decisions are taken at national or regional level, rather than in Brussels.
"We are proposing greater subsidiarity for the Member States and the regions because we believe that key decision-makers should be closer to those on whom their decisions will impact most directly.”
The conference continues with a range of expert contributors on such issues as the role of digitisation, trade opportunities and EU-Africa, while tomorrow’s focus will be on the outlook for the key agricultural markets.
Source: European Commission