Copa and Cogeca support the Council conclusions approved on 20 November concerning the Long-Term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas and wish to highlight that farmers, forest owners and agricultural cooperatives are already key contributors to achieving the objectives set out in the Vision.
The Council conclusions rightly highlight the fundamental role of agriculture in achieving stronger and more prosperous rural areas across the EU. Generational renewal is fundamental to the cause, and we are glad to see this clearly underlined. Stepping-up generation renewal as well as tackling gender equality absolutely requires urgent action both at EU and national level.
Copa and Cogeca welcome that the role of agriculture, forestry, and bioeconomy in the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of rural areas is well highlighted namely its contribution to ensuring food security, energy efficiency, employment, climate change mitigation and fostering innovation. We also strongly support the recognition of the essential role agricultural and forest cooperatives play in rural areas, in their economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The involvement of farmers, forest owners and agricultural cooperatives in developing tailor-made strategies is crucial for the future of rural areas and more should be done in this regard.
The references made to investments in agriculture are particularly important as these are key in helping farmers, forest owners and cooperatives to improve their overall performance as well as their sustainability, their ability to develop smart and innovative approaches and thus contribute to the green and digital transition.
We support the call for coherent policies and instruments verified through a rural proofing mechanism although insist on the need for consistency between ambitions and means. All relevant policies (on top of the Cohesion policy, CAP, National Recovery and Resilience Plans) should contribute to supporting the diverse needs of rural areas.
Finally, Copa and Cogeca also support the Rural Pact (which provides a framework for cooperation between public authorities, civil society, businesses, citizens, and academia) and the Rural Action Plan (which will create new opportunities such as access to jobs, skills promotion, better infrastructure and leverage the role of sustainable agriculture). These will also enable the creation of stronger, and more connected rural areas.
Fonte: Copa and Cogeca
