EPP for the support of farmers: The EU should implement Greece’s proposals – 2024-03-01 19:56:30

To undertake immediate and medium-term actions to support farmers and agricultural production, in order to ensure Europe’s food sufficiency, the Ministers of Agriculture call on the EU in their joint statement issued following the initiative of Greece.

Specifically, the European People’s Party, following the initiative of the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis, in a joint statement of its members adopts a resolution that includes all the Greek positions.

With the resolution, according to a statement by the Ministry of Anti-Corruption, the dangers posed by the climate crisis are highlighted and special mention is made of the natural disasters that have hit our country. At the same time, it is recognized that the existing tools of the CAP are insufficient or merely symbolic to face the new reality and the serious effects on agriculture.

The resolution calls on the EU to act quickly and design an appropriate response mechanism, and urges it to urgently consider the measures proposed by the Greek Ministry of AAT, Lefteris Avgenakis, in order to strengthen the industry’s capacity to deal with increasingly debilitating conditions.

In particular, he proposes:

1. Strengthening of the Agricultural Reserve.
2. Utilization of 2% of the CAP to deal with disasters
3. Creation of a new Fund to cover losses caused by the climate crisis.

The Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis, on the occasion of the EPP resolution, said:

“The EPP resolution adopts the new reality in the primary sector. It is comforting that even Central and Northern European countries recognize the magnitude of the problem that the European South is already experiencing. But this is not simply a resolution based on community solidarity. It is a resolution based on logic, as it has been shown that the climate crisis knows no borders. This admission requires us to take measures that support the efforts of our farmers to ensure production. After all, food security is a basic condition for maintaining social cohesion. As citizens of Europe, we have every reason to join forces and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.”

The resolution of the European People’s Party is as follows:

Joint Letter of EPP ministers: measures to tackle the impacts of climate change on agriculture

The climate on our planet has been changing in recent years, seriously threatening even human existence. Rapid global warming is negatively affecting all aspects of economic activity with agriculture being particularly vulnerable.

As a consequence of climate change, extreme weather events have increased in frequency and intensity, adversely and directly affecting the agricultural production sector. Heatwaves and prolonged periods of drought, as well as heavy rainfall and flash floods cause irreparable damage to agriculture. These extreme phenomena endanger food security, reduce the income of farmers and create favorable conditions for the more frequent occurrence of diseases despite the use of appropriate plant protection products. In addition, the current geopolitical situation, global market dynamics and fluctuations in household income are unassailable factors affecting the security of the European agri-food sector.

The European Union has long led the initiative to tackle climate change. Its actions, through ambitious domestic policies and close cooperation with international partners, aim to ensure a just, healthy and prosperous society for future generations. Scientists assert that, despite concerted efforts, climate change will continue to affect the environment for decades to come. Even if greenhouse gas emissions stopped automatically, temperatures would continue to rise for the current century. At the same time, scientists point out that there is a lack of widespread knowledge to adequately assess the consequences of climate change on agriculture, especially in combination with a variety of other factors. However, it is clear that southern Europe is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the phenomena associated with it directly threaten agriculture in the region.

Never before had so much been at stake. The devastating effects of climate change in the context of the unstable geopolitical environment, with high energy prices, security of supply problems and high inflation rates leave no room for complacency and require immediate action. Although the Union is already contributing to improving preparedness and capacity at national, regional and local level, addressing losses in the agricultural sector especially those caused by climate remains of paramount importance to ensure the continuation of agriculture in the Union and therefore of its food autonomy.

We, the Ministers of Agriculture of the European People’s Party, recognize the devastating effects of prolonged drought and severe floods, similar to those recently experienced in Greece, and taking into account the differences between the aid received through the agricultural reserve and the actual losses that the farmers suffered. We therefore recognize that relying solely on the current CAP instruments to address extreme weather impacts is insufficient and rather symbolic. Taking immediate and medium-term actions is imperative to ensure substantial support for agriculture and farmers. Thus, our intention is to strengthen all ongoing efforts to simplify the procedures of the current CAP.

We also call on the European Commission to act quickly by designing an appropriate response mechanism to mitigate the urgent needs arising from climate-induced agricultural losses. This is vital to sustaining agriculture and supporting farmers in these difficult times.

The Greek Minister, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, has proposed the following measures with different implementation timelines that must be urgently considered for discussion, in order to strengthen the industry’s ability to deal with increasingly debilitating conditions:

• Strengthening the agricultural reserve and in particular by simplifying and improving its application.
• Implementation of a voluntary ad hoc crisis management tool using a maximum of 2% of the national budget of the CAP Strategic Plan (as proposed by Croatia – Slovenia).
• Creation of a new fund exclusively dedicated to covering agricultural production losses caused by the climate.

This document is subscribed to by all EPP member countries except Sweden:

Lefteris Avgenakis, Minister of Rural Development and Food, Greece

Marija Vučković, Minister of Agriculture, Croatia

Sari Essayah, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland

Norbert Totschnig, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Austria

Kęstutis Navickas, Minister of Agriculture, Lithuania

Marek Výborný, Minister of Agriculture, Czech Republic

Jo Brouns, Minister of Agriculture for the Federal State of Wallonia, Belgium

Martine Hansen, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Luxembourg