Honorable Members, dear colleagues,

Thank you for bringing this important issue to the plenary debate. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is vital for this House and the European Commission.

The CAP has been a cornerstone of the European project since its inception.

In December 1964, Sicco Mansholt remarked: “The Governments of the Member Countries burned the individual boats in which they could have sailed home to the harbors of national agricultural policy. Henceforth, there is only a Common Policy. A policy of European solidarity.”

This statement remains as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. The CAP is a true common policy, symbolizing solidarity, food sovereignty, and European integration.

While we rebuilt our continent post-war in the 1960s, we are now focusing on creating a stronger Europe.
A Europe that can face the multiple challenges ahead. The security framework we relied on for decades is no longer guaranteed. Russias unprovoked aggression has reignited conflict in Europe. Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, making the new normal anything but normal.

Thus, our future budget and policies must adapt to this changing world.

If recent geopolitical shifts teach us anything, its the strategic significance of food production. A strong continent cannot be built on an empty stomach. This principle guided Mansholts policy and remains relevant today.

As the Commission President stated, our next Budget will prioritize Cohesion Policy and the CAP. Our regions and farmers will always be central to our Union.

The Commission recognizes that the CAP is crucial for maintaining Europes food sovereignty, particularly in todays challenging geopolitical context. Additionally, thanks to our farmers, the EU remains a significant food exporter, contributing to global food security.

Farmers and rural areas face increasing pressures from global uncertainties and climate change, alongside the significant challenge of generational renewal. As custodians of the land, they are striving to meet environmental and climate goals while ensuring food security. The Commissions Communication on the next multiannual financial framework prioritizes food security as a key funding area.

However, the CAP needs modernization to address contemporary challenges.

We require a common agricultural policy that is fit for purpose, better targeted, enhances environmental and social outcomes, and supports thriving rural areas.

To achieve this, we have developed a coherent policy toolbox that provides fair income for farmers, safe and affordable food for consumers, and respects our environment. I fully agree that we must maintain this coherence and the integrity of the CAP. We are working in this direction.

While we should build on past successes, we need a CAP that is simpler and finds the right balance between incentives, investments, and regulations, ensuring farmers receive fair and adequate income. Our simplification package is paving the way for the future CAP by streamlining requirements and prioritizing incentives, building on existing eco-schemes and agri-environmental measures, while reducing bureaucracy for farmers and administrations. We intend to continue this path.

We will ensure our policy is better targeted, particularly towards farmers who actively contribute to food security and environmental preservation. We must also improve fairness in fund distribution.

Our tools must support the most disadvantaged sectors and regions. Many EU regions rely solely on livestock for income. The value the EU adds to these areas is real and significant. Without agricultural activity, land abandonment could lead to demographic, environmental, and social issues. In some regions, this could even pose security risks. Consider our Eastern Border regions—without economic activity, our resilience and preparedness are weakened. In this sense, these “freedom farmers” significantly contribute to the EUs defense line.

I would like to emphasize the essential role of Cohesion Policy in strengthening our rural areas and regions. Investments in local infrastructure, transport, clean energy, SMEs, broadband, health, and education enhance economic and social cohesion. This is increasingly important in ensuring everyone can stay in their communities by supporting local needs. Furthermore, the mid-term review of Cohesion Policy offers incentives and flexibilities for objectives like water resilience, housing, energy transition, and increased competitiveness and innovation. It also provides specific incentives for Eastern border regions, which face dual challenges of increasing security and reviving their economies.

Additionally, as uncertainties from climate and geopolitical factors rise, the EU must continue to provide an adequate safety net for our farmers in the form of risk and crisis management. A true Unity Safety Net is needed to alleviate pressures and mitigate risks for our farmers and food industry.

Honorable Members, these aspects must be acknowledged as we shape our policy and allocate the future budget, building on the successes the CAP has achieved thus far. The specifics of how to do this will be discussed with co-legislators, including you. I look forward to hearing your insights.

In conclusion, I believe the new financial framework presents an opportunity to build on the current CAP and strengthen our policy response to achieve competitiveness, resilience, innovation, and sustainability objectives more effectively, ensuring solutions are designed with local specifics and sectoral challenges in mind.