COAG states that the cuts in the CAP proposed by the EU would mean a real loss of 17% of aid for farmers

The Coordinator of Organizations of Farmers and Cattle Ranchers (COAG) considers “unacceptable” the 5% cut in the budget of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) announced by the European Commission in the proposal of community financial perspectives for 2021-2027. If we take into account inflation throughout the budget period, we estimate a real loss of 16.6% of the aid received by farmers, as reflected in the comparative analysis prepared by the COAG Technical Services.

In addition, COAG considers that the budgetary framework is clearly insufficient to address the new demands, commitments and challenges raised in the communication from the European Commission on the future of the CAP, food and agriculture after 2020. “Contradictory and incoherent that in order to respond to the main demands of European citizens (the fight against climate change, food security, conservation of the environment, rural development economy), the EU proposes a further reduction of Community support for businesses and The implementation of the new measures would mean higher costs on farms and therefore it is necessary that there should never again be a budget allocation for the viability of small and medium-sized farms”, stressed Miguel Blanco, Secretary General of COAG.

In addition, COAG has placed special emphasis on the fact that, in a context of cuts, measures to prioritize aid for real agricultural assets, rural men and women working directly in the farm, generation of employment and fixing the average population, were not considered. rural, and there are no novel elements to support the incorporation of young people into the agrarian sector. “And not only that: taking into account that 80% of farm income has been affected by prices, in the communication of the reform of the PAC has not been established market regulation measures, defense of the Community preference and protection of parameters of quality and food safety of the European production model against imports, on the contrary, further liberalization with free trade agreements with countries to facilitate the entry of commercial companies and investment funds outside the sector they end up displacing the true professional farmers and ranchers”, lamented Blanco.

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