This Monday, 26 February, was an important date for farmers: the European Council of Agriculture Ministers examined possible solutions to their situation. As part of the Belgian presidency of the European Council, it was our federal Minister for Agriculture, David Clarinval, who chaired this important meeting.
Farmers are feeling the effects of a very difficult situation on agricultural markets and are worried about their future. The reasons behind the discontent expressed by farmers are numerous, but focus mainly on issues such as strict environmental regulations or the growing gap between the reality on the ground and European or national legislation affecting farming activities, as well as the question of guaranteeing them a fair income for their work.
The European Commission approved a first set of measures at the beginning of February, such as the withdrawal of the pesticide reduction plan, which was putting pressure on the agricultural sector, as well as the GAEC 8 standard, which required farmers to keep a certain percentage of their land fallow, representing a significant loss of income. The ministers of the 27 member states approved these proposals but stressed the need to go further.
At national level, administrative simplification measures have been taken at regional and federal level. Thus, at David Clarinval's initiative, the Minister of Finance introduced an administrative simplification concerning farm tenancy agreements. Farmers will no longer be required to provide detailed information about owners, plots and the location of rented properties, as this represented a disproportionate administrative burden for them.
This Friday, 1st March, a second meeting of the Agri-Food Task Force is being convened, which will lead to new measures to be adopted in favour of farmers.
For David Clarinval, this is above all a first step in the right direction: "We can see that the various levels of government have mobilised to find answers, and that's a good thing. But the work must continue to offer farmers a package of concrete solutions and to guarantee them a fair income."