Activities of Bronis ROPĖ related to 2022/2182(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Generational renewal in the EU farms of the future (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on generational renewal in the EU farms of the future
Amendments (35)
Amendment 20 #
Aa. A. whereas according to REGULATION (EU) 2021/2115 Member States should reserve at least an amount corresponding to 3 % of their annual direct payments envelope before any transfer for interventions targeting generational renewal.
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. A. Whereas the farming profession is dominated by men, and holdings are mostly managed by men (72%). Countries with the highest share of women as farm managers are Latvia and Lithuania 1a _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/ etudes/STUD/2019/608868/IPOL_STU(20 19)608868_EN.pdf
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas on average, organic farms are run by younger farmers, and in most countries, farms fully converted to organic farming or under conversion attract younger farm managers compared to conventional farms 2a _________________ 2a https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/system/fil es/2023-04/agri-market-brief-20-organic- farming-eu_en.pdf
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the low level of intergenerational renewal in farming, while part of a larger trend of demographic decline, is a general EU concern for the sector; and society as a whole,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that young farmers and new entrants are more likely to introduce innovative business ideas and implement sustainable farming practices; and should be offered better training and more advice in this regard
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a fair and dignified income and quality of life for farmers and their families, including consistent and equally distributed EU direct support, is essential in attracting young and new people to the sector;.
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasizes that due to the generally formed negative image of agriculture as a possible speciality and way of life, young people avoid connecting their future with this sector
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the price and availability of land, low profitability, lack of own capital and access to credit, administrative requirements and the image of the sector were identified as the main barriers to becoming a farmer11; _________________ 11 European Commission, ‘Public consultation results on the CAP reform’, 2017.
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Emphasizes that more active EU initiatives are necessary to help shape a positive image of agriculture and its individual sectors in the eyes of the public, so that the farming profession regains public respect and becomes an attractive alternative for young people when choosing a future lifestyle
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Welcomes the acceleration of digital transformation in the agricultural sector and rural areas; draws attention to the exclusion of small farms and the outermost regions from these developements, and points to the need to take measures to ensure that the digital transformation also benefits all farmers;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Regrets the contribution made by the CAP to farm concentration and intensification to the detriment of in particular young potential farmers, and calls on Member States to fully exhaust the available flexibilities in the context of their national strategic plans to reverse these trends.
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Underlines that insufficient convergence of external direct payments distorts competitive conditions and contributes to the rapid decline of farms in certain countries. Calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that the Member States receiving the lowest direct payments reach the EU average by 2027
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Reaffirms the importance of the Union's fruit, vegetable and milk program in schools in order to help children eat healthy and at the same time introduce them to agricultural activities, especially urban children, thereby creating a positive image of agriculture; calls on the Member States to make full use of their allocations for these programs and to prioritize sustainable, local and quality production
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)
Paragraph 10 e (new)
10e. recalls that according to Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which deals with economic, social and territorial cohesion, priority must be given to rural areas; notes, however, that rural areas and their specific needs are not sufficiently valued when allocating Cohesion Fund funds, which significantly contribute to maintaining the vitality of regions; therefore calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of creating a separate fund that would provide exclusive support for projects in rural areas through the Cohesion Fund, with local authorities making the investment decision
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises the complex and multi- layered nature of the generational renewal process, which is influenced by factors related to the private sphere of the farmer, the characteristics of the farm, the policy framework and support measures and the wider social context, all of which should be acknowledged when designing both EU and member states' policies;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action to develop and implement measures to combat gender inequality; points out the importance of creating an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs in rural areas, including legal and policy aspects, to ensure better access to information, knowledge and skills, as well as to facilitate access to financial resources and thereby create more jobs in rural areas and contributes to generation renewal
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to develop coherent strategies to promote generational change, combining different measures in a complementary way, such as their national strategic plans, other financial support, tax breaks and incentives, to improve links between EU policies and national and regional policies;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on Member States to make full use of the complementary redistributive income support for sustainability pursuant to article 16 REGULATION (EU) 2021/2115 with view to supporting young farmers in particular
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Highlights that the development of short supply chains and regional food markets could play a central role in providing economic opportunities for rural population in agricultural production, agro-processing and retailing, which should become an investment priority for the current CAP period.
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Highlights the central role played by Community Led Local Development initiatives in keeping and restoring living and thriving local rural economies, and the need to keep a sufficient level of funding for LEADER; Calls on the Member states to make full use of LEADER's capacities;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Calls Member States to involve local residents and their communities more in developing solutions that promote generational renewal. Calls on the Commission, when preparing the new programming period, to consider the possibility of providing financing measures in the LEADER program that would encourage the renewal of generations on farms
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12e. Calls on Member States to pay particular attention to the needs, challenges and potential of female farmers. Calls on the Commission to come forward with a communication on women in farming, analysing and advocating best practice in Member States and identifying gender specific obstacles to farm renewal.
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the possibility of action at EU level, including through legislative instruments, to improve the functioning of farmland markets and to eliminate the disparities in direct payments that contribute to the distortions of the EU single market;;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Member States to regulate the sale, use and lease of agricultural land markets in order to promote land access, via purchase or leasing or other forms of access, for young farmers by all means available, such as pre-emptive rights in favour of young farmers, price controls, acquisition caps or obligations to maintain agricultural activity;
Amendment 229 #
17a. Welcomes that the Commission has acknowledged the need to regulate agricultural land markets. 3xCalls upon the Commission to examine the potential for a Directive on Access to Agricultural Land, setting out minimum standard to combat land concentration and land grabbing. _________________ 3x https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:5201 7XC1018(01)&from=E
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Member States to ensure the transparency of the rural land market, while maintaining, and reporting to the Commission, up-to date public information on land markets and land planning, communicating about land sales and monitoring land concentration;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to establish an EU observatory on farmland, as part of the Rural Observatory, to monitor, in particular, trends and prices for land sale and rental, concentration as well as changes in farmland use;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Emphasizes that purchase of farms is often an unbearable burden for young farmers. Invites the Commission and the Member States to create a support system in such cases, which would include support for the first loan instalment and lower interest rates for loans guaranteed by the state
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. notes that an effective sustainable public transport system is one of the necessary conditions for regional economic development, territorial cohesion and the development of regional potential. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the necessary funding for the development and maintenance of transport links, as this could encourage the older generation to stay longer in agriculture and attract young people from regional centres to work in rural areas
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Highlights that the young farmers of today and tomorrow will be the most affected by the impacts of climate change and by the loss of biodiversity, but that they are also better equipped to seize the opportunities presented by and contribute to the green and digital transitions;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. draws attention to the fact that there is an increasing need for highly qualified young professionals in the regions and that it is important to take all necessary measures to encourage young people to study agricultural professions, as well as to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from older people to the younger generation;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Urges member states to initiate and implement programs that will help attract students to agricultural specialties in higher, advanced and other educational institutions, in order to increase the number of students choosing agricultural specialties;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Insists on the need to ensure adequatecent working and living conditions and social protection for young farm workers, in particular women and migrant workers;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. calls for EU programs to focus on projects that promote and strengthen the preservation of existing jobs in the agricultural sector and the creation of quality jobs that guarantee rights and stable and regulated wages and working conditions, as well as effectively and intensively combating poverty and social exclusion in rural areas