It will be necessary to go further in the negotiation to preserve the specificities of the common agricultural policy (PAC) and give visibility to the farmers, warned the French European Minister of European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, disputing the project in the flexible part of the financing proposed by the European Commission.
“We will fight for every euro of the common agricultural policy: the maintenance of farmers’ income, that is, what is called the current pillar 1, but also all the investment aid, such as support for the installation of young farmers, so that they are not diluted within other income,” said the minister.
“We will be particularly attentive” in European direct aid to agriculture, during the two years of negotiations that are opened to define the common agricultural policy during the 2028-2034 period, Benjamin Haddad promised to the newspaper of western France.
“Our farmers need visibility”
France, and several Member States, according to Benjamin Haddad, dispute the place made to agriculture in the project that establishes that part of European financing is paid in a specific fund where Member States can decide to attach money to agriculture or other destinations.
“Obviously, Member States will always make the issue of agriculture a priority. But I believe that our vision for agriculture must be clearly registered in this European budget. We were several Member States to remind the Council to the Budget Commissioner today,” he said.
The European Union detailed its proposal to reform the future joint agricultural policy on Thursday from 2028 to 2034, which arouses the anger of the profession.
It establishes a base of 300 billion euros during the period, against 387 billion in the previous one from 2021 to 2027. But the commission refutes the idea of a fall because it proposes a change in budget architecture with the establishment of this vast fund in which the states could draw.
Source: BFM TV
