There could be up to 1,000 farmers losing their farms per day across the EU, according to the prospective European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Poland’s Janusz Wojciechowski is set to replace Phil Hogan in the agriculture portfolio when the new European Commission is confirmed by the European Parliament.
On Tuesday (October 1), he faced a question-and-answer session with MEPs before he is formally approved as a commissioner.
In his opening remarks to MEPs, Wojciechowski highlighted the difficulties European farmers face, as well as speaking about the environment, animal health, generational renewal and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
During one decade, from 2005 to 2015, we lost 4 million farms in the EU. The number of farms was almost 15 million, and after a decade there was less than 11 million. It means we lose 400,000 per year; more than 30,000 per month; more than 1,000 per day.
“Our debate is planned for three hours. During this debate, more than 100 European farmers probably will lose their farm, their job, and for many of them it will be a very traumatic situation,” he told a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Committees on: Agriculture and Rural Development; and the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
He also stressed the rising issue in France of suicide among farmers.
“Maybe I’m too pessimistic, but there is an anecdote that the difference between a pessimist and optimist is that the pessimist is generally better informed. It is very important to have the real picture of the situation in European agriculture,” Wojciechowski observed.
During the parliamentary session, the 64-year-old Polish politician repeatedly mentioned that there was a need for a “long-term vision” for agriculture in the EU.
We have a long-term vision for climate policy, a long-term vision for energy policy – we don’t have a long-term vision for the future of European agriculture.
“It is very important to have such a vision, because the farmers ask us what will be our future, what will be the future for our children. It is very important to give the answer, a positive answer, that there is a future for European agriculture,” said Wojciechowski.
CAP
According to the commissioner-designate, there is a need to reform the CAP, saying that the issue of the policy is not just a concern for farmers, but for wider society.
“For farmers, we have to protect them, to save European farmers. But for all society, the problem is food security, food supply security, food safety […] climate protection, the environment, biodiversity and animal welfare,” Wojciechowski argued.
In answering a question from the floor, he said that he was open to dialogue and further discussion on how to reform the CAP, saying that the commission’s proposal on reform earlier this year “is not the bible”.
Special report
Wojciechowski said that one of his first actions if he is approved by the parliament would be to commission a report into the current state of European agriculture.
“It’s very important to have a true picture of the current situation,” he commented, saying that the report would look at “where we are; where we are going; how many farms we have; how many farmers; and what the generational situation is”.
He added that having that “true picture” would be the “base for the programming of the future development of European agriculture”.
Other issues Wojciechowski highlighted was: his focus on “green agriculture”, which he said provides ” a big chance” for smaller family farms; and the importance of dialogue between politicians, farmers, farm organisations and other stakeholders.
Wojciechowski concluded his speech by saying: “We have a big chance to create a long-term vision for European agriculture, to create a better future for our farmers; a better future for European agriculture; and a better future for our environment.”
