Ane Barcos-Aquí Europa
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, announced yesterday that, during the Agriculture Council of the European Union on February 26, he will present a proposal to simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), whose 2021 reform is among the current protests by workers in the European agricultural sector.
“We have on the table right now the mobilizations of farmers and ranchers who demand that they be heard, who demand that their concerns regarding the future be answered,” Planas acknowledged during an interview on the Onda Cero’s program ‘Más de Uno’.
In this context of protests, Planas announced that he will bring to the next EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council a proposal to simplify the Common Agricultural Policy. The last reform of the CAP, carried out in 2021, introduced a series of changes that have generated unrest between farmers’ associations, such as the establishment of “eco-schemes”, a system of incentives for agricultural holdings to carry out environmental practices aligned with EU objectives. According to agricultural organizations, these requirements hinder both agricultural activity and its profitability because they condition the granting of CAP aid, lead to an increase in bureaucratic burdens and entail guidelines that reduce the productivity of farms.
In the interview, Planas acknowledged being aware that the debate on reducing administrative burdens is “an eternal debate.” However, he pointed out that, “many times, due to overlapping regulations and non-repeal of those that have been previously applied, there may be a situation where people, in this case, farmers and ranchers feel very strong pressure on them”.
In that sense, the minister expressed his “respect and support to those who want to be heard” and recognized the challenges and difficulties that farmers face today. However, he emphasized that the CAP “would have to be created if it did not exist” because “it is income insurance for farmers and ranchers.” Planas also highlighted that, along with the simplification proposal, other issues such as the Food Chain Law or agricultural insurance will be addressed.
During the radio interview he also addressed the upcoming European elections, pointing out that in this last term some “absolutely correct” decisions have been made, such as raising sustainability as an issue that “is not debatable.” Likewise, he insisted on the importance of increasing sustainability and productivity. “Doing all that, which I will say here in a minute, on the field is very complicated for the farmer and rancher,” he admitted.
