Von der Leyen kickstarts strategic dialogue on future of EU food systems

With tractors continuing to parade through the streets of Europe, on Thursday (25 January) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with food chain stakeholders and NGOs to launch the ‘strategic dialogue’ between agriculture groups and EU decision-makers.

Farmers’ income and quality of life in rural areas, sustainable agriculture, innovation and competitiveness of the EU food system will be the main topics of the endeavour, which will involve 27 stakeholders, consumers and environmental organisations with meetings until the summer.

“We all sense that there is an increasing division and polarisation when it comes to topics related to agriculture,” von der Leyen said in her inaugural address, adding that this could only be achieved “by dialogue”. 

“While we may not always see eye-to-eye on all issues, we all agree that the challenges are mounting,” von der Leyen said, citing “competition from abroad” and “over-regulation at home” as examples. 

Competition in the “global market” and environment were recurring themes of the Commission president’s speech. 

Free trade agreements and green policies have been two of the main issues raised by farmers on the streets. 

In Poland and Romania, farmers and truckers blocked their respective borders with Ukraine, protesting against what they say is a flood of cheaper Ukrainian products during the past weeks. 

Polish agriculture minister: 'Farmers protests pushed the EU to softer stances'

The awaited proposal of the Commission on prolonging the food trade benefits for Ukraine, driving food sector discontent, will be tabled “next week” Czesław Siekierski told Euractiv, and it might include some Warsaw demands.

In Germany and France, the decision to scrap tax cuts for farmers on diesel fuel was key in triggering rallies. 

In a message after the event, Christiane Lambert, the President of the EU farmers association COPA-COGECA, asked for “coherence” in trade agreements and urged the Commission to “take stock of what has been done since the Green Deal”.

Later in a tweet, Lambert listed a precise list of demands, such as fair income, to say no to the EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement, and the revision of trade liberalisation measures with Ukraine, on which a decision from the Commission is expected next week.

Managing expectations

It is not clear how much these expectations will be met in the dialogue. “We are not a day-to-day political monitoring body that could be used to intervene in EU policy in the coming months,” said Professor Peter Strohschneider, the appointed chair, in his opening speech. 

Asked about whether the discussions would lead to immediate actions to address farmers’ concerns, a Commission Spokesperson told journalists on Wednesday that this is not the aim of the project.

“There are certainly a number of issues which require short-term action by the Commission,” the spokesperson said, adding that “that is not what the [strategic dialogue] is about”.

The spokesperson said that the goal was adopting “a long-term vision for the agrifood sector”. 

As farmer protests continue, EU Commission's dialogue slammed as 'too late'

With the European Commission’s ‘strategic dialogue’ between policymakers, farmers and agriculture stakeholders due to start on Thursday (25 January), agriculture ministers on Tuesday said the initiative is coming too late.

[Edited by Angelo Di Mambro/Nathalie Weatherald]

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