Speaking at their meeting, Copa President Gerd Sonnleitner stressed “Family farmers, which account for a large proportion of the 25 million people employed in the agriculture sector, are very dear to all EU citizens. I run a family farm myself which has been handed down for generations, playing a key role in rural economies. To ensure generation renewal in the future, farming needs to be an economically viable and profitable activity. It is therefore vital to ensure that the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform is implemented properly and red tape is minimised. Research and innovation is also vital so that farmers can have access to new technologies and can reap the benefits of for example new crop varieties. Internet access, child care and health care facilities are important for family farmers living in rural areas like they are important for all of us”.
Copa-Cogeca strongly feels that we need an institutional solution for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package as soon as possible.
Cogeca President Christian Pees continued “Many family farms are also active in cooperatives and play an important role. Confronted with more and more challenges, like increasing market volatility, bad weather conditions, it is more important than ever to have efficient measures to manage the market to reduce the extreme market volatility. It is essential that all safety nets available in the new CAP enable the sector to react quickly and effectively in times of market disturbances.”
In the wake of the United Nations International Year of Family Farms in 2014, ways of improving their situation, of making family farmers more interactive with society and of stimulating policies will be looked at in upcoming events. In October this year, Copa-Cogeca is planning to co-organise with FAO and the World Farmers Organisation (WFO) a 2-day event to highlight the importance of family farming in Brussels. Copa-Cogeca will also participate with its member organisations in the EU Commission Conference on November 29 2013 on the UN International Year of Family Farms 2014. We are also taking part in the Commission public consultation on this. Finally, Copa-Cogeca, together with other organisations, will hold a lunch-time press conference this year to launch the International Year of Family Farms. Come and join us! A series of events will be held during the year 2014 and it will also play a big part in our 2014 Congress of European Farmers.
