EU leaders must raise ambitions to make the future CAP sustainable
“Current progress shows that the Council and the Agriculture Committee aim to weaken the proposed CAP greening. We reject the excuse of many EU politicians that, in the age of austerity, Europe will have to wait for greener and fair outcomes for farmers and citizens", says Marco Schlüter, IFOAM EU Group Director. "EU leaders must finally ensure that we have a food and farming policy that delivers sustainability across both pillars. The environmental performance of all farmers must be raised through a solid greening package as a condition for direct payments in Pillar 1 instead of introducing untested and questionable certification schemes, whilst a well-funded Pillar 2 must focus on instruments that can enhance the overall sustainability and the long-term viability of our farming and rural areas."
“Rural Development as the second pillar of the CAP is crucial to move farms and rural areas towards ecological, economic and social sustainability. Farm Ministers must raise ambitions now to defend the Rural Development budget ", adds Antje Kölling, IFOAM EU Group Policy Manager."Agro-ecological approaches, such as organic farming, increase the sustainability of farming, deliver high quality food and help to create employment in rural areas. Therefore EU leaders should prioritise organic farming, high nature value farmland and agri-environment-climate in rural development spending. The upcoming Irish EU Presidency, Farm Ministers and the European Parliament must use the next six months to turn limited progress around by supporting a CAP that drives sustainability across the farming sector."
For more information:
IFOAM EU Group
Tel: + 32-2-280 12 23
Fax: +32-2-735 73 81,
info@ifoam-eu.org
www.ifoam-eu.org