In response to ongoing efforts to redefine the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) CEJA has today released its vision for the future CAP in the document Young Farmers are Key in the Future CAP, which they presented to Commissioner Hogan’s Head of Cabinet Peter Power during a meeting in Brussels.
In response to ongoing efforts to redefine the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) CEJA has today released its vision for the future CAP in the document Young Farmers are Key in the Future CAP, which they presented to Commissioner Hogan’s Head of Cabinet Peter Power during a meeting in Brussels.
CEJA’s document — available here — represents nearly two years’ worth of work from CEJA members, and is the culmination of a final summary document, as well as the seven position papers which were used to create it.
“The CAP has been one of Europe’s success stories,” explained CEJA President Alan Jagoe, “it has helped so far but it has not addressed the key area of generational renewal. It is for this reason that I ask you now to channel your inner young farmer and be bold and ambitious for the next CAP.”
CEJA’s plan focuses on the three key areas where change must happen. Generational renewal, progressive and proactive environmental measures and sustainable economic support. It is through developments in these areas that we as the voice of young farmers aim to ensure jobs, growth and investment in rural communities, as well as making rural areas places where people will want to live and work.
“By following our paper and introducing the measures that we have identified to support, sustain and indeed grow agriculture, we can ensure that the CAP remains true to its principles. Civil society will see that the CAP is good value for money, while farmers, the environment and the consumer will ultimately all be the winners together.”
Included within the document is CEJA’s call for how to distribute the new and enlarged CAP budget:
? 20% to be allocated to various measures and instruments specifically targeted to Generational Renewal.
? 50% to be allocated to Sustainable Economic Support.
? 30% to be allocated to Proactive and progressive environmental measures.
The document has been subjected to a scientific peer review by Prof Rogier Schulte and Dr Roel Jongeneel of Waggenin University, who commended CEJA on “building a vision for European farming that may be sustained, in every sense of the word, into an uncertain future. Their submission makes our scientific quest for solutions rewarding and gives cause for optimism about the future of rural Europe that we are jointly contributing to.”
Picture credit: CEJA
This news iten was originally featured on the CEJA website.