About: common agricultural policy
France’s path towards sustainable farming eroded by increased droughts
The intense drought in France has already led to the elimination of fallow fields. It has also created tensions that are not so favourable to the negotiations over the EU's new Common Agricultural Policy. EURACTIV France reports.
German cabinet agrees on plan to ban glyphosate, increase insect protection
The German government wants to protect insects better and completely ban the controversial weedkiller glyphosate by 2023. It also intends to introduce an animal welfare label, and unlock additional funds for CAP measures that are environmentally friendly. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany may have to pay €850,000 per day for exceeding EU nitrate levels
The European Commission criticised Germany for its excess nitrate levels in groundwater. If Germany's environment and agriculture ministries fail to put proposals on the table quickly, high fines could be imposed. But this is not the only warning from Brussels. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU ministers struggle to find a ‘practical’ roadmap for a greener CAP
Although all EU ministers agree on higher climate objectives in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), they still do not know how to put this environmental ambition into practice.
French MEP: When it comes to the environment, the future CAP is regressive
In an interview with EURACTIV France, French MEP and vice-chair of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group Eric Andrieu spoke about the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and highlighted its lack of environmentally-focused provisions.
The environment in the new CAP
Greens have strongly criticised the European Commission for what they say is a lack of concern for the environment in its proposals for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy.
FAO official: ‘Veganism is certainly not for everyone’
Veganism is certainly not for everyone, particularly when it comes to mother and children, as it is deficient in some important minerals and vitamins, Henning Steinfeld, an official from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), told EURACTIV in an interview.
German farmers rely on subsidies, says young female farmer
The number of young people who want to work in agriculture is shrinking. Those who choose farming in Germany have to put up with high acquisition costs, complicated bureaucratic requirements and a modest income. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Farmers launch rallying cry for European elections
"Vote for our future". Copa-Cogeca, the European umbrella organisation of farmers and cooperatives, called on all farmers to vote in the upcoming European elections, spelling out its demands for Europe's future agricultural policy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission calls for bioeconomy strategies to be expanded and implemented
Under the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Commission will not approve the national strategic plan of a member state that does not include the promotion of the bioeconomy in agriculture, the EU's farming Commissioner Phil Hogan said on Thursday (25 April).
Private sector is part of the solution in bioeconomy, experts say
The private sector has a key role to play in promoting bioeconomy in the agrifood sector, high-level experts have told EURACTIV.com. However, they said the risk of depriving the food production system of organic resources must be weighed up.
The bioeconomy in the post-2020 CAP
Over 18 million people across the EU were employed in the bioeconomy in 2015 – mainly in the agriculture, food and beverage sectors, according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
Portuguese EU candidates concerned about CAP cuts
The Portuguese candidates for the EU elections from centre-left and left parties PS, PSD, PCP and BE, have voiced concern about the planned budget cuts in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The conservative CDS party criticised the Lisbon government's "tragic inability" to draw on these funds. EURACTIV’s media partner Lusa reports.
‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’, agri-stakeholders tell EU Commission
The involvement of many European Commission’s Directorates-General (DGs) in the post-2020 agricultural policy has raised concerns among stakeholders, who believe it is going to cause delays and throw too much environment into the agricultural mix.
Czech agriculture goes digital as science meets with farmers
Close collaboration between scientists, researchers and farmers has helped agriculture in the Czech Republic to take significant digital steps and increase its competitiveness, analysts told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Why the new CAP will be worse for the climate and farmers
With €365 billion between 2021-2027 the Common Agricultural Policy will continue to represent the second biggest budget of the EU. The CAP’s objectives remain largely unchanged since 1962 and need to be radically reviewed if we want them to reflect social demands and the finite environmental limits, write a group of Green MEPs.
Industry calls on EU member states to show ‘clear commitment’ in smart farming
The EU manufacturers of agricultural machinery (CEMA) have called on member states to indicate a “clear commitment” to the digitisation of European agriculture as the only way to face the environmental and economic challenges. This message has also been acknowledged by the European Commission.
Hogan urges EU member states to include rural women in their CAP strategies
EU Commissioner for agriculture Phil Hogan has encouraged member states to take advantage of the new Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) flexibility and tackle issues related to rural women.
Poor access to credit prevents women from entering European farming
The access to credit and financing is one of the most important obstacles women farmers are facing in order to take the risky leap to join Europe’s agricultural sector.
Croatian MEP: Women farmers should be ‘key element’ of the new CAP
Empowering women in rural areas will contribute to boost entrepreneurship, self-employment and innovation in European agriculture, argues Marjiana Petir, a Croatian MEP from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP).
Young Polish farmer: The reasons to move to the countryside
Small farms dominate the Polish agriculture. Their area gradually decreases, but data from the Central Statistical Office shows that the average Polish farmer has two to five hectares of land at his/her disposal. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Low returns and rural areas’ restrictions keep young Greek farmers away
Low profitability and poor infrastructure quality make farming in Greece unattractive to young people, who are needed more than ever before to take the agricultural sector a step forward, stakeholders have told EURACTIV Greece.
Young people and women ‘both needed’ in the next CAP, Spaniards say
Excessive red tape, combined with lack of access to land and proper rural infrastructure, continues to be the main obstacle to attracting young men and women in Spain’s agriculture sector. EFE Agro reports.