European Economic
and Social Committee
REFLECTIONS BY CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS: EU budget
EU budget proposals: historical setback for young farmers
Over the summer, the European Commission’s proposals on the EU’s future long-term budget (2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework - MFF) were much talked about in our fields, stables and orchards. With contradicting declarations, significant delays in accessing the proposals and complex governance models, young farmers were not impressed with the overall picture presented by the EU’s executive.
Most importantly, amid all the talk, a silent renouncement took place: against all expectations, the MFF does not provide for an earmarked budget for young farmers in the common agricultural policy (CAP). A few weeks away from the publication of the Strategy for Generational Renewal, the Commission’s budgetary proposal feels like a false start. With the numbers of young farmers continually decreasing, it also stands in total contrast to the urgency of the situation and toEU agriculture’s demographic challenges. While the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) welcomes the importance given to young farmers, the absence of earmarked funding takes us back in time 25 years, when we had to fight to get a miserable percentage of the policy’s budget. Because we know what happens without the ambition for a dedicated budget, we reject the notion of aspirational targets.
As demonstrated multiple times, CEJA is not opposed to change, as long as it is justified, transparent and within a clear governance framework. But these MFF proposals reflect something different: the belief, at the highest political level, that the EU must simplify its budgetary framework by trimming down a well-established, ever-improving CAP governance model. Ahead of the upcoming negotiations, CEJA is worried that this new framework, with its shaky governance, leaves too much room for interpretation by Member States and creates much more complexity for farming and rural areas.
Faced with this, our message to legislators is simple: as young farmers, the decisions that are made regarding this budget and the CAP will impact the rest of our careers. These decisions are not only about spending budgets, they are also about giving the right signals to upcoming generations and telling them that there is a future in and for the agricultural sector in the EU.
Peter MEEDENDORP
President, European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA)
© CEJA