News CAP budget
'Budget for CAP must remain the same'
"The budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must remain the same," said MEP Annie Schreijer-Pierik (CDA). However, reactions to the new CAP budget, which will be cut by 5%, are very divided. Politicians and advocates see both threats and opportunities.
The multi-year budget of the European Union (EU) shows that the CAP budget for the agricultural sector cut will be up to €365 billion. It is a striking decision, because the total budget will be increased by €300 billion. In particular, the EU wants aid to larger farms to be cut.
'It's lazy politics'
MEP Jan Huitema (VVD) sees an opportunity in the lower budget. "Due to the cutbacks in the budget for the agricultural sector, the urgency is felt to strengthen the competitive position of European farmers with a modern agricultural policy. This is an opportunity for the Dutch agricultural sector."
"Be honest, does direct income support improve the competitiveness of the European agricultural sector? Giving income support to farmers sounds great, but is in fact lazy politics. It is a short-term solution, in which the countries that lag behind the Netherlands (in terms of agriculture ) benefit," said Huitema.
Huitema continues: "It is precisely the Dutch farmers who have invested heavily to improve their competitive position. As a result, they are much better able to derive their income from the market compared to other farmers. The new policy should reward that."
Prioritizing Food
Schreijer-Pierik takes a different view. "I believe that the CAP budget should remain the same." It also demands a more balanced budget, which clearly shows that the EU gives high priority to its own food supply. "For security reasons, Europe should never become dependent on the goodwill of non-European countries when it comes to our daily bread."
"Our food is too important to be left to the whims of the free market," says Schreijer-Pierik. She also writes a column in the AD that the CAP costs the Dutchman only €0,33 per day. By way of comparison: the Dutch pay €15 per day for healthcare.
Change for Brexit
According to Schreijer-Pierik, the CAP determines whether the European agricultural sector, and therefore also Dutch farmers, can compete with farmers elsewhere in the world. "I call on Prime Minister Rutte not to make defenseless change for the consequences of Brexit in the upcoming negotiations between our farmers and horticulturists."
According to Marc Callon, chairman of LTO Nederland, wrestles the discount with the agricultural budget. "A lower budget will not contribute, and may even be discouraging, to the higher level of ambition." LTO Nederland believes that the CAP budget should at least be maintained, especially in Pillar 1.
No young farmers
Iris Bouwers, board member of the NAJK, is also disappointed in the proposal: "Young farmers are the future of the sector, but they are not talked about. They need a consistent budget. They want to contribute to sustainable agriculture, but are now prevented from doing so." According to Bouwers, young farmers prefer to be paid from the market, but since that is not happening at the moment, the extra support is needed.
According to European Commissioner Phil Hogan is the European budget fair? "If Member States use the opportunities well, small businesses and family businesses will get next to nothing." The European agricultural organization Copa Cogeca, on the other hand, does not agree with the proposal. The organization believes that a good budget is needed to meet the challenges in the agricultural sector.
Anne-Jan Doorn
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