Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 1

RemovedA. whereas the common agricultural policy (CAP) is one of the EU’s most well-established policies and is of global strategic importance in the geopolitical context, as part of the EU’s defence and food sovereignty, playing a key role in the security of food supply and ensuring the stability of the agricultural and forestry sector and the resilience of food production in the EU;

Added– having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A10-0143/2025),

RemovedB. whereas the CAP must be simplified and modernised to enable the EU’s agricultural and forestry sector to respond more efficiently to the needs of farmers and the expectations of society in terms of food safety and quality, climate change, rural development, public health and employment, reducing bureaucratic burdens and making it easier to adapt to new challenges;

AddedA. whereas the common agricultural policy (CAP) is a foundational and well-established EU policy that plays a strategically important role in the current uncertain geopolitical context and that forms a key part of the EU’s food security, defence and strategic autonomy;

RemovedC. whereas we must necessarily take note of the need to improve the CAP so that it responds more satisfactorily both to the needs of its main beneficiaries, namely farmers and livestock breeders, and to the needs of all European citizens;

AddedB. whereas the CAP’s objectives must continue to be based on ensuring increased agricultural production and productivity, contributing to a fair standard of living for the agricultural community by increasing incomes, supporting the stability, sustainability and competitiveness of the EU agricultural and forestry sectors, and contributing to rural development; whereas the special characteristics of agriculture must be taken into account, especially in the context of climate-related challenges, crises and conflict scenarios; whereas the CAP contributes to, and strengthens the resilience of, food production in terms of quantity, quality and affordability for consumers, as well as the production of raw materials for various applications related to the bioeconomy;

RemovedD. whereas the CAP, the result of a European consensus, is now more valuable than ever, given the current challenges, and is of vital importance across Europe for approximately 9.1 million farms in the European Union, which represents a decrease of 37 % compared to the 14.4 million recorded in 2005;

AddedC. whereas, in line with the European Preparedness Union Strategy, there is a need to place agriculture at the forefront of the economic and political agenda and to recognise its role as a critical component of the EU’s security and defence policies; whereas productive agricultural land is therefore of strategic importance and, together with soil, water, air and biodiversity quality, is a key factor in agricultural production that must be protected;

RemovedE. whereas there is a need to maintain the two-pillar structure of the CAP, which ensures a balance between the market and production policy in Pillar I and the social and structural features of rural development in Pillar II; whereas the specific tools for Mediterranean sectors should be further integrated into Pillar I;

AddedD. whereas on 14 January 2025, more than 150 Nobel and World Food Prize laureates issued an open letter calling on world leaders to urgently prioritise agricultural research in order to meet the food needs of a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050;

RemovedF. whereas direct payments provide the first substantial level of stability and a safety net for farmers’ incomes – especially for new and young farmers – as they represent a tangible part of annual farm incomes; whereas, in particular, direct investment aid should be targeted specifically at improving profitability, strengthening competitiveness and protecting the environment, while taking into account the specific needs of individual farms;

AddedE. whereas the European Union is expected to reduce agricultural output if the current policy framework remains unchanged, thereby increasing the risks of food insecurity and food poverty within the EU and contributing to global food shortages, while willingly neglecting its agronomic potential;

RemovedG. whereas agricultural land accounts for 40 % of European territory, and the EU agri-food sector accounts for approximately 7 % of the EU’s gross domestic product and employs 8.7 million people;

AddedF. whereas the forestry sector falls within the competence of the Member States, not the European Union;

RemovedH. whereas, according to the 2024 Eurobarometer on ‘Europeans, Agriculture and the CAP’, 92 % of European citizens surveyed say that agriculture and rural areas are important for our future; whereas 77% agree that the EU, through the CAP, is fulfilling its role in ensuring a stable supply of safe, healthy and sustainable high-quality food in the EU at all times;

AddedG. whereas the CAP must be strengthened, further simplified, made more flexible and modernised, while maintaining its coherent structure and ensuring the sustainability of EU agricultural production across its environmental, social and economic dimensions; whereas it is essential to enable the EU’s agricultural sector to better respond to both active farmers’ needs and the expectations of European society regarding food security, safety and quality, climate change mitigation and adaptation, water resilience, mental health, generational renewal and gender equality; whereas it is crucial to reduce bureaucratic burdens and to provide adequate funding to farmers, farm workers and their communities so they can have a fair standard of living and adapt more easily to new challenges;

RemovedI. whereas the objectives of the CAP must continue to ensure security of food supply and food sovereignty, as well as the profitability and sustainability of the Union’s agricultural systems and territories; whereas this applies especially in crisis and conflict scenarios where food production is a crucial line of defence;

AddedH. whereas there is a need to clearly maintain the two-pillar structure of the CAP; whereas this structure should ensure a balance between the income support under Pillar I helping farmers to remain, or become, viable and produce for the market, with 100 % EU-financed direct payments, and the agri-environmental actions and investment support as part of the well-funded rural development policy under Pillar II, supported by co-financed measures to better address specific situations;

RemovedJ. whereas the new challenges in terms of food security and food self-sufficiency that European agriculture must overcome within the EU’s policy priorities require that the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) should increase the budget for the common agricultural policy in constant euro in order to meet both current and future challenges;

AddedI. whereas, in the light of the ongoing discussion on the future of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), it is essential to keep the CAP funds separate from others and not merge them into a single national fund in order to preserve the community character of the CAP and to ensure equal conditions for farmers across Member States;

RemovedK. whereas it is important to ensure that CAP aid payments are targeted at those directly involved in agricultural activity, promoting the optimisation of farms through efficient management, with the aim of ensuring the profitability and competitiveness of the sector;

AddedJ. whereas the CAP reflects the diversity of EU regions, traditions and agricultural systems, including a wide range of farm structures, types of farming and products;

RemovedL. whereas agricultural income remains below the average for the rest of the economy in almost all Member States, standing at 47 % of average gross wages and salaries in the EU economy; whereas farms run by managers aged 40 and under have the lowest incomes on average within the EU;

AddedK. whereas any changes to the current CAP or new legislation should be introduced in a way that ensures stability in the sector and more legal certainty for farmers and forest owners, who demand a simpler CAP, providing income-support, delivering sustainability and taking into account seasonal constraints and the long-term planning needs of agricultural production; whereas such measures should be developed in consultation with stakeholders, avoid unnecessary administrative burdens, allow for reasonable transitional periods, and be supported by adequate adaptation budgets;

RemovedM. whereas unbalanced cross-compliance could impose disproportionate burdens on farmers, while absorbing resources from Pillar I, undermining its main function of supporting farm incomes and stability in the sector;

AddedL. whereas the CAP, as a cornerstone of the European consensus on development, is more relevant than ever in the light of current challenges; whereas the CAP supports approximately 9.1 million farms across Europe, representing a 37 % decrease in the number of farms compared to the 14.4 million recorded in 2005, and whereas this decline has been accompanied by a decline in farmers’ income of 12 % per hectare; whereas 77 % of EU citizens agree that the EU, through the CAP, is fulfilling its role in ensuring a stable supply of safe, healthy, sustainable and high-quality food at affordable prices for 450 million consumers; whereas rural areas cover 83 % of the EU’s territory and are home to 30 % of the EU population; whereas agricultural land accounts for 40 % of EU territory and the agri-food sector contributes approximately 7 % of the EU’s GDP, employing around 17 million people;

RemovedN. whereas, through the CAP, European farmers have made huge efforts to integrate environmental objectives compatible with the requirements laid down in Union legislation, but a proper balance needs to be struck, through incentives enabling farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices, ensuring their competitiveness and profitability;

AddedM. whereas according to Eurostat, 93 % of farms in the EU are family-run; whereas this unique European model needs to be preserved as it plays a crucial role in the vitality and economic viability of rural areas;

RemovedO. whereas a competitive agriculture, food and forestry sector can continue to play a strong role in achieving objectives for security of food supply, public health and environmental protection consistent with the policies of the Union, with farmers being incentivised and remunerated for their contribution and assisted by a reduction in unnecessary regulatory and administrative burdens in the measures they undertake;

AddedN. whereas farming is not just a job, but a way of life rooted in nature, historical, cultural and traditional heritage and the rural community that has a positive impact on society and deserves better recognition; whereas the multifunctionality of agriculture in the EU offers a wide range of opportunities for employment and business diversification in rural areas, for example through agri-tourism services, the agri-food and bioeconomy industries, renewable energy production, sustainable tourism, school visits and direct sales; whereas this multifunctionality contributes to inclusive growth, community welfare and the provision of social, educational and health-related services in rural areas;

RemovedP. whereas it is essential to strengthen the position of farmers in the food chain and to ensure fair competition in the single market through fair and transparent rules that respect the specific needs of the sector, promoting incentives that prevent risks and crises; whereas aspects outside the scope of the CAP affecting the competitiveness and a level playing field for farmers must also be properly considered and monitored;

AddedO. whereas food inflation in the EU reached almost 25 % in 2022 and 2023, soaring to 50 % in some countries, which had major economic and social repercussions and highlighted the fundamental need to stabilise agricultural prices to ensure macroeconomic stability and economic security;

RemovedQ. whereas the price and limited availability of land, the generally low profitability of agricultural activity, the administrative requirements and the image of the agricultural sector were identified as the main barriers to becoming a farmer; whereas attention should be drawn to the fact that other factors, such as a lack of own capital, difficult access to credit, to technical services and to support measures, and the effects of climate change can also constitute important barriers to the involvement of young and new farmers in the agricultural sector;

AddedP. whereas direct area payments are essential for the economic sustainability of European agriculture, playing a crucial role in maintaining sustainable production and ensuring that farmers receive a fair and adequate income, thereby enhancing profitability, providing stability and guaranteeing a minimum level of security; whereas increased support should be ensured for women, new, young and family farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises – particularly those operating in disadvantaged areas – as well as for sectors supported on socio-economic or environmental grounds;

RemovedR. whereas young and new farmers are more likely to introduce innovative business ideas, apply new technologies and production methods and implement sustainable farming practices;

AddedQ. whereas it is important to ensure that CAP Pillar I aid payments are directed towards all active, professional farmers who derive their income either partially or entirely from agricultural production, whether on a full or part-time basis;

RemovedS. whereas new rural value chains in the bioeconomy can offer good growth and job potential and new market niches for rural areas;

AddedR. whereas these direct payments should contribute to enhancing competitiveness and improving the sustainability and resilience of the EU agricultural sector, while reflecting specific needs and regional diversity; whereas the core driver of farmers’ profitability must continue to be the production of healthy food, with the possibility of complementing income through activities such as energy generation, carbon capture, or sustainable tourism;

RemovedT. whereas farmers face increasing price volatility due to fluctuations in global markets, macroeconomic uncertainty, external policies, health crises, surpluses in certain European sectors, climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events in the EU;

AddedS. wwhereas under the 2021-2027 MFF, allocations to the CAP were reduced in both nominal and real terms compared to the previous MFF; whereas overall EU expenditure on the CAP has declined considerably in recent years despite a significant increase in the CAP’s environmental ambition; whereas this reduction has had a significant impact on farmers’ income;

RemovedU. whereas it is essential to provide flexible and responsive tools to help sensitive and strategic sectors cope with structural changes, such as the potential impacts of EU enlargement or the adoption of bilateral trade agreements;

AddedT. whereas farmers are facing rising price volatility due to fluctuations in global markets and in European production, owing to the globalised nature of the food supply chain, as evidenced by the recent influx of grain from non-EU countries and the increase in fertiliser prices; whereas they also encounter macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, health crises, animal disease outbreaks, market concentration trends, surpluses in certain European sectors and the unpredictability of yields as a result of more frequent climate-related extreme weather events and natural disasters;

RemovedV. whereas, according to the European Environment Agency, drought has caused annual economic losses of up to EUR 9 billion in the EU;

AddedU. whereas European agriculture must address new and increasing challenges and deliver on EU priorities such as food security and climate resilience; whereas this necessitates an increased budget for the CAP in the next MFF in constant prices, as one of the EU’s policy priorities in order to prevent a loss in the real-term value of payments and meet both current and future challenges in the EU;

RemovedW. whereas the Joint Research Centre points to the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity 2030 strategies as the cause of a loss of agricultural production of up to 15 %;

AddedV. whereas failure to adjust the MFF for inflation could result in a loss of up to 54 % of the CAP – equivalent to EUR 250 billion by 2034 – severely undermining the EU’s capacity to maintain food self-sufficiency and respond effectively to internal and global demands;

RemovedX. whereas sectoral strategies for fruits and vegetables, and wine and apiculture should remain compulsory for the producing countries, and the specificities of the related tools and rules should be retained;

AddedW. whereas agricultural income remains below the average for the rest of the economy in almost all Member States, standing at 47 % of average gross wages and salaries in the EU economy and whereas people living in urban areas generally have a higher level of income than those living in rural areas, which leads to inequalities and exclusion; whereas farmers aged 40 and under have the lowest incomes on average within the EU; whereas the future CAP must ensure a fair remuneration and protection for farmers and farm workers, enabling them to sustain production activities throughout the Union, including in areas facing natural constraints, and meeting quality standards and food safety requirements for the benefit of citizens;

RemovedY. whereas it is essential to ensure a level playing field, fair prices and a fair standard of living for all farmers across regions and all EU Member States, thereby ensuring affordable prices for consumers and that there is agricultural activity in all parts of the Union including in areas with natural constraints;

AddedX. whereas farmers are facing high levels of work-related stress caused by long working hours, social isolation, financial uncertainty, administrative and regulatory demands, climate-related weather events or emerging plant and animal diseases; whereas access to mental health services for farmers remains limited;

RemovedZ. whereas the importing of agricultural products of lower quality than those produced in the EU is also an obstacle to the ability to obtain fair prices and profitability on the market, as well as being inconsistent with the Union’s own objectives and a risk to public health;

AddedY. whereas it is essential to strengthen the position of farmers in the agri-food supply chain, duly recognising their role, and to ensure conditions of fair competition, productivity, resilience and efficiency in the single market; whereas it is important to guarantee full compliance with the legislation on unfair trading practices, ensuring fair payment for agricultural products, together with greater transparency in price formation and promoting better tools for managing the impacts of risks and crises; whereas external shocks and factors outside farmers’ control, such as market crises or natural disasters, affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of farmers along the value chain, must also be properly considered and monitored;

RemovedAA. whereas any changes to the current CAP and new legislation should be introduced in a way that ensures stability in the sector and legal certainty and security for farmers and forest owners, through measures that do not entail unnecessary administrative burdens and through transitional periods and adequate budgets;

AddedZ. whereas agricultural cooperatives, created and managed by the farmers themselves, as well as producer organisations (POs), associations of producer organisations (APOs), and local action groups strengthen the position of primary producers in the production chain by combining efforts, coordinating investments and mitigating the fragmentation of the sector; whereas the Vision for Agriculture and Food recognises that stronger collective bargaining in agriculture is crucial in making the sector more attractive;

RemovedAB. whereas the World Health Organization recommends moderate consumption of meat and other animal products as part of a varied and balanced diet, as they are a valuable source of high-biological-value protein and essential micronutrients such as iron and vitamin B12, in addition to the benefits of livestock farming, such as protecting biodiversity, preventing fires and providing nutrients for the soil and food security;

AddedAA. whereas the EU is still facing a generational decline in the farming sector; whereas in 2020, the majority (57.6 %) of farmers in the EU, regardless of gender, were over 55 years of age, while those under 35 represented approximately 6 % – of whom only 1.7 % were women – and in many Member States, a very high proportion of farmers are aged 65 and over;

RemovedAC. whereas approximately 70 % of the protein-rich feed needed in the Union is imported from third countries and whereas the European Parliament and the Member States are calling for an increase in the production of protein crops in the EU;

AddedAB. whereas generational renewal is essential for the future of European agriculture, food security, the prosperity of rural areas and the preservation of the rural way of life; whereas the price and limited availability of land, the generally low profitability of agricultural activity, the structural challenges facing rural areas in relation to the investments and risks involved, the administrative requirements and the sector’s perceived image are among the main barriers to becoming a farmer; whereas attention should also be drawn to other factors, such as the lack of own capital, difficult access to credit, especially for women and young farmers, the need for technical and accompanying services and support measures, the effects of climate change, high input and other production costs, and the multiplication of vector-borne diseases, all of which can constitute important barriers to the involvement of young people, women and new farmers in the agricultural sector;

RemovedAD. whereas agriculture and water are intrinsically linked and sustainable water management in the agricultural sector is vital to ensure sufficient and good quality food production;

AddedAC. whereas young people, women and new farmers have the potential to introduce new business ideas, adopt new technologies and implement sustainable farming methods; whereas schemes that combine sustainability, technological uptake and intergenerational partnerships should be promoted to facilitate farm succession; whereas stronger synergies between youth employment initiatives, the CAP and rural development policies are essential to support generational renewal and ensure young people remain in rural areas;