Copa and Cogeca call upon EU CAP negotiators to assume their responsibilities in reaching a compromise that equally safeguards economic and environmental performance
As the CAP trialogue negotiations continue, Copa and Cogeca express their deep concerns about the latest developments in the talks. The Common Agricultural Policy determines the income of millions of farmers, our food security, our strategic independence and the sustainability of our territories.
Nobody talks about it in Brussels these days but this CAP has major environmental requirements for farmers and their cooperatives. Let's be clear, with incomes continuously being lowered, less money for the CAP and tougher international competition, it will be a struggle for farmers to implement them. We are committed to the CAP and its good performance. Contrary to the claims of some NGOs, this is not greenwashing but a major challenge to small and large farms alike.
Farmers are stakeholders in the field who are aware of environmental issues. We are and will always be the first to pay the consequences. The EU negotiators should trust farmers to make the extra effort. We count on the European Parliament and the Council for their swift approval of the package after years of negotiations.
The sooner we have an agreement, the sooner we can take further concrete actions on the ground.