On Monday, at the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg, the Parliament commemorated the 60th anniversary of the publication of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) first regulation.
Opening the ceremony, EP President Roberta Metsola reminded that the Common Agriculture Policy has transformed Europe and that European products have helped feed the world. However, she also stressed that there are challenges ahead such as the need of young farmers, guaranteeing the quality of products and sustainability of production process, and the war in Ukraine.
President Metsola also paid tribute “to all the people behind the success of our Common Agricultural Policy. The farmers, their families and all other ancillary workers that put a huge effort in the fields come rain or shine. They are the true narrators of this success story”.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau on behalf of the French Presidency reminded that conceiving agriculture as a tool of peace was the at the heart of the goals of the founders of Europe. That is why, according to the Minister, we reject using farming as a weapon in the context of the war in Ukraine. After 60 years, the CAP is a policy that is faithful to the spirits of the founders of Europe. It is a powerful symbol of Europe’s unity, concluded Minister Fesneau.
Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski called for adapting the CAP to current and future challenges. “The history of the Common agricultural policy fully demonstrates its relevance and success. And today’s challenges fully demonstrate the need to continue and develop this policy for the next generations of Europeans”, the Commissioner said.
Chair of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development Norbert Lins (EPP, DE) concluded the ceremony by thanking European farmers for their hard working efforts to ensure food on the shelves. He, nevertheless, also warned of the danger of a supply crisis on the European doorstep – in Ukraine and in North Africa. The Chair therefore called for a quick action to ensure food security, sustainability, and affordability of decent food in the future.
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