At the start of the plenary session, MEPs commemorate the 60th anniversary of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The ceremony is taking place at an important juncture, with the war in Ukraine bringing into sharp relief how vital it is to guarantee food security, one of the CAP’s main goals. The EU adopted a substantial reform of its CAP at the end of last year, which will enter into force in 2023. Extracts from the ceremony.

Strasbourg

plenary session

ceremony

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

CAP reform (T)

LINS, Norbert (EPP, DE)

WOJCIECHOWSKI, Janusz (ECR, PL, EC)

60th anniversary of the Common Agriculture Policy (T)

Ceremony on the 60th Anniversary of the CAP: extracts from the ceremony

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Our Common Agricultural Policy has transformed Europe. Our farmers not only provide us with the food security that we need, they also export around 180 billion euros worth of agri products to third countries. Europe's quality products have helped feed the world, but we must also consider the challenges that lie ahead. Only 11 percent of farm managers in the EU are under the age of 40. Our agri sector is in desperate need of an influx of skilled young farmers that can boost innovation. We need to approach farming with a fresh perspective. We also need to pay closer attention to the quality of our products and sustainability of production process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Agriculture is a strategic sector of our economy. And on this milestone anniversary, let's end by paying tribute to all the people behind the success of our Common Agricultural Policy the farmers, their families and all other ancillary workers that put a huge effort in the fields come rain or shine. They are the true narrators of this success story.

SOUNDBITE (French), Marc FESNEAU, French Minister of Agriculture, When we tragically see that war has come back to Europe, this makes it even stronger because we all remember that conceiving of agriculture as a tool of peace was at the heart of the goals of the founders of Europe. And that's why I reject any form of blackmail regarding food security and using farming as a weapon in the context of the war in Ukraine. It's a matter of building food sovereignty for Europe and this project on the part of our founding fathers does make it possible to ensure that Europe can feed her population by having sufficient choosing to have sufficient production in Europe rather than depending upon imports.

SOUNDBITE (French), Marc FESNEAU, French Minister of Agriculture, It is an expression of our solidarity and our values in Europe after 60 years. Thus, this is more than ever a policy that is faithful to the spirit of the founders of Europe. It is adapted to its time. It is preparing for the future, and it's our responsibility to conserve what we have gained in the past in conjunction with our farmers. This is a powerful symbol of Europe's unity and of the values that we been fighting for since our foundation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture, We owe our food security first and foremost to our farmers, those who cultivate the land and keep the animals. We thank them for their efforts. We also thank workers, along with the entire food system, such as those in the processing and distribution systems. Today is hard to imagine what European agriculture would be like without the Common Agricultural Policy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture, - We must do more to ensure the stability of farmers incomes. We must do more to support them in crisis situation, which unfortunately are starting to become more frequent. We must ensure that living conditions in the rural areas are improved and close the gap between rural and urban conditions. This is the aim of our long term vision for rural areas adopted in 2021 and targeting significant changes by 2014. Honourable members, the history of the Common Agricultural Policy fully demonstrates its relevance and status, and today's challenges fully demonstrate the need to continue and develop this policy for the next generations of Europeans.