Farmers across Europe have protested against bureaucratic regulations, prompting EU Commissioner Christophe Hansen to respond with new agricultural policy proposals. Embracing his ‘country bumpkin’ label, Hansen draws on his farming background to address farmers’ challenges, including income instability and administrative burdens. His plans include maintaining direct payments and reducing bureaucracy, while emphasizing support for struggling farmers and sustainable practices. The EU Parliament is currently reviewing significant reforms in the agricultural sector, with mixed reactions from various political groups.
One year ago, farmers throughout Europe rallied against excessive bureaucracy and regulations. In response, EU Commissioner Christophe Hansen is working to address these concerns. Today, he unveils his plans while humorously branding himself a ‘country bumpkin.’
Christophe Hansen embraces the label of ‘country bumpkin,’ believing it offers him a unique perspective. He spent his formative years working on his family’s farm in northern Luxembourg, continuing to lend a hand even after starting his studies at 19.
Hansen asserts that his firsthand experience equips him with a profound understanding of the agricultural industry’s challenges. This insight is particularly valuable, as he has been serving as the EU Agriculture Commissioner since December, overseeing a sector that employs around 30 million individuals across Europe.
The EU Commissioner is keen to showcase his qualifications for the role, and now his proposed strategies are set to undergo scrutiny.
Substantial Subsidies, Growing Discontent
It’s clear that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) requires fresh direction. Approximately one-third of the multiannual budget, totaling 387 billion euros over seven years, is allocated to agriculture, making it the second-largest expenditure in the EU budget.
Despite this funding, many farmers express frustration, believing that insufficient support trickles down to them. Last year, widespread protests erupted as farmers voiced their grievances over national regulations, declining prices, and trade agreements favoring Ukraine.
Angry farmers view Brussels as the source of their woes, blaming the EU Commission for imposing bureaucratic burdens and continuously introducing new regulations. In a show of dissent, Flemish and French farmers blocked traffic in Brussels with tractors, stacked hay bales, and ignited tires.
The protests a year ago thrust the agricultural sector into the spotlight, prompting a critical examination of the situation.
Empathy for Farmers’ Struggles
The EU establishes its agricultural policy for a seven-year cycle, and preparations are currently underway for the phase following 2027.
Commissioner Hansen recognizes the need for Brussels to regain farmers’ trust. In the draft outlining his agricultural policy vision, he candidly acknowledges that the CAP’s reputation has waned due to farmers feeling overlooked.
In his declaration, Hansen expresses empathy for the difficulties faced by farmers, including unpredictable income, overwhelming administrative tasks, and production vulnerabilities.
A Commitment to Direct Payments
To bolster farmers’ income stability, the Commission intends to uphold direct payments, which are primarily determined by farm size, provided farmers adhere to basic environmental standards.
Hansen’s draft indicates that direct payments represented an average of 23 percent of agricultural income in 2020. Moving forward, he aims to prioritize support for those farmers who genuinely need it and who ‘actively contribute to food security, farm vitality, and environmental preservation.’
The draft highlights specific groups, such as farms in disadvantaged regions, young farmers, and newcomers. However, it remains ambiguous regarding any potential cap on direct payments.
The EU Parliament is currently examining extensive reforms within the agricultural sector.
Streamlining Bureaucracy
In line with other sectors, Brussels aims to alleviate bureaucratic challenges in agriculture as well. The declaration promotes a more effective division of responsibilities between member states (which dispense subsidies and establish eco-regulations) and farmers.
Both new and existing legislation will be subjected to practical evaluations. Emerging technologies like satellite monitoring may help minimize the need for controls and reporting requirements. The Commission plans to present concrete proposals in the upcoming months.
Small farms, specifically those under ten hectares, have already been exempted from certain controls and penalties related to CAP regulations for a year. The Agriculture Commissioner is also focused on fostering investments and facilitating farmers’ access to loans while ensuring fair pricing.
As farmers’ protests resonated across Europe, the EU’s response is now a pivotal campaign issue, with voters presented clear choices.
Building Consensus
Hansen integrates insights from the Strategic Dialogue on EU agricultural policy into his vision. This is a strategic move, as last year, various organizations collaborated over several months to formulate comprehensive reform proposals.
These discussions emphasized the need for targeted support for farms and increased incentives for sustainable farming practices. This collaborative effort included representatives from farmers’ associations, environmental and consumer protection groups, and food businesses.
By adopting several of these recommendations, the Agriculture Commissioner hopes to rally key stakeholders in the sector behind his initiatives.
The Christian Democratic EPP group in the EU Parliament, to which Hansen belongs, views his vision as a significant advancement. Conversely, the European Greens express concerns over potential compromises in climate and environmental policies.
This report was brought to you by BR24 on February 19, 2025, at 10:07 AM.