Open letters

Here you will find CEJA's open letters to European decision makers and concerning particular topics.

Latest open letter

28/02/2011

Young farmers need greater focus in report on ‘The CAP towards 2020: meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future’ 

Dear MEP Dess,

The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) represents the next generation of farmers who will implement the future reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)  To meet society’s demands and the ambitious objectives of reforming the CAP, Europe will need a vibrant and dynamic agricultural sector where young farmers can continue the agricultural profession. Generational decline in the European agricultural sector will have to be tackled, to guarantee that the three objectives of food security, preservation of natural resources and achieving the territorial balance throughout the EU can be met.

In that respect, your report on ‘The CAP towards 2020: meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future’ is of great importance to all interested in securing a better CAP and of course for the European Parliament’s to give its vision of the reform process.

Thus far, we welcome your and your colleagues work at the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development in emphasising the particular situation that Europe’s young farmers face. For example the current legislature has highlighted on several occasions the negative demographic trend of only 6% of European farmers being under the age of 35 and has called for specific support instruments such as subsidized loans and encouraging a better facilitation for young farmers to set up in reports such as ‘Report on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013’ in 2010 and the ‘Report on recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security’ in 2011.

Consequently, we feel that your report should do more to take into account the situation of young farmers, who have only received minor references in your document.

A greater focus in your report should address:

• The demographic situation of Europe’s young farmers with only 6% under the age of 35 years old in Europe. 4.5 million European farmers are over the age of 65 and will be of retirement age by 2020.

• Europe’s young farmers currently receive only a fraction of rural development support. Only 3% of the programmed total public expenditure for CAP “Pillar II” for the period 2007-2013, in Axis 1 of rural development was allocated to measure 112 (the setting up of young farmers).

• More should be done to encourage the installation of young farmers with specific supports to combat generational decline in European agriculture such as:

-Under Pillar I, a top-up payment for young farmers should be added in addition to direct payments;

-Under Pillar II, measures for young farmers should be reinforced and re-balanced. The cofinanced budget should be composed of 20% coming from Member States and 80% from EU level.

-Preferential access to credit should be given for innovative projects and projects for young farmers and new entrants.

-European training programme for young farmers, including the possibility to do a traineeship abroad.

We hope that this letter can encourage you in your important role as rapporteur to give Europe’s young farmers a stronger focus in this report. We look forward to maintaining fruitful relations with you in the future.

Yours sincerely

Joris Baecke,

President