EESC Warns of Challenges and Opportunities in EU Agricultural Sector Ahead of Enlargement
Source: The DairyNews
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has issued an early alert about the potential implications of the European Union’s upcoming enlargement on the agricultural sector, calling for comprehensive preparation and adherence to EU values by incoming members. The alert came during the EESC's July plenary session, where an opinion on the complexities and strategic considerations of enlargement was adopted.
As the EU prepares to expand, the EESC highlighted the need for a balanced support system that protects agricultural and rural sectors across both existing and candidate Member States. The upcoming enlargement could significantly alter the EU’s agricultural landscape, increasing the total agricultural area by one-third, with Ukraine's accession alone potentially increasing it by one-quarter.
Stoyan Tchoukanov, the rapporteur for the opinion, emphasized the importance of managing the integration process carefully, particularly for the agri-food sector. "The previous enlargement was beneficial overall but had less positive outcomes for rural areas and small-scale farmers," Tchoukanov noted. He stressed that any disturbance in one part of the agricultural system could have ripple effects throughout the entire sector.
The committee also pointed out the necessity of countering misinformation and ensuring that legislative changes are effectively implemented through comprehensive data collection and monitoring. This is crucial to manage the transition and adapt to the evolving objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is shifting towards emphasizing eco-systemic services over traditional support models.
The enlargement is seen as an opportunity to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy and reduce its environmental footprint. However, it poses challenges such as competition for local farmers, budgetary constraints, and the need to balance support amidst the repercussions of ongoing conflicts, such as those in Ukraine.
The EESC recommends a phased integration approach to avoid negative impacts from increased competition, with dedicated budgets to support the most affected subsectors, particularly SMEs. Future CAP reforms should focus on enhancing targeted support for sustainability, introducing incentives based on environmental and societal benefits instead of traditional hectare-based subsidies.
Stoyan Tchoukanov, the rapporteur for the opinion, emphasized the importance of managing the integration process carefully, particularly for the agri-food sector. "The previous enlargement was beneficial overall but had less positive outcomes for rural areas and small-scale farmers," Tchoukanov noted. He stressed that any disturbance in one part of the agricultural system could have ripple effects throughout the entire sector.
The committee also pointed out the necessity of countering misinformation and ensuring that legislative changes are effectively implemented through comprehensive data collection and monitoring. This is crucial to manage the transition and adapt to the evolving objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is shifting towards emphasizing eco-systemic services over traditional support models.
The enlargement is seen as an opportunity to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy and reduce its environmental footprint. However, it poses challenges such as competition for local farmers, budgetary constraints, and the need to balance support amidst the repercussions of ongoing conflicts, such as those in Ukraine.
The EESC recommends a phased integration approach to avoid negative impacts from increased competition, with dedicated budgets to support the most affected subsectors, particularly SMEs. Future CAP reforms should focus on enhancing targeted support for sustainability, introducing incentives based on environmental and societal benefits instead of traditional hectare-based subsidies.
