In Brussels, agricultural policy is becoming an afterthought

Of the EU’s 27 member states, 23 have seen protests by farmers in 2024. Despite this wave of action by the agricultural sector, not a single candidate has been nominated for chair of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee.

Of the nearly 400 million eligible voters in the European Union, only about nine million work directly in agriculture. Yet, in a pivotal year marked by widespread farmer protests in 23 of the 27 EU nations, a delay in announcing candidates for the European Parliament’s agriculture committee raises critical questions about representation and policy impact.

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Did the voices of these nine million voters truly resonate if their sector’s leadership remains vacant? This anomaly not only highlights systemic challenges within EU governance but also underscores broader concerns about democratic accountability and effective policymaking.

As Europe navigates complex agricultural and environmental issues, ensuring that every vote and every voice counts becomes not just a matter of policy, but a test of democratic integrity and responsiveness.

What are they protesting against?

In 2024, European farmers have staged widespread protests fuelled by both national grievances and shared concerns. In Germany, outrage erupted over plans to phase out tax credits for agricultural diesel, while the Netherlands faced demands to cut nitrogen emissions. These issues, alongside challenges like competing against cheap imports and a subsidy system favouring large enterprises under the EU’s Green Deal, sparked protests across Poland, France, and Belgium.

Meanwhile, German farmers protested equipment taxes, and in Romania and Greece, discontent focused on EU agricultural policy taxes. Rising production costs due to increased energy, fertiliser, and transport prices compounded frustrations exacerbated by measures to suppress food prices amid inflation, making cheap imports more appealing. Strict EU regulations further strain farmers, driving up costs and hindering competition against less-regulated imports.

In Eastern Europe, removal of quotas and taxes on Ukrainian imports created economic disparities, while weather extremes like Spain’s irrigation issues and Greek fires and droughts intensified farmers’ challenges. This crisis has widened the gap between farmers and EU officials, who farmers feel are not adequately addressing their concerns amid climate change impacts.

EU policy problems

Farmers argue that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with its 55 billion euros annual subsidy system, favours the establishment of large farms and corporations over supporting individual farmers. They believe this policy has contributed to a significant decline in the number of farmers in the EU, which has dropped by over a third since 2005.

The situation is further exacerbated by the regulations outlined in the EU’s Green Deal, a key initiative of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aimed at achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The targets include halving pesticide use by 2030, reducing fertiliser use by 20 per cent, repurposing more land for non-agricultural uses, and doubling organic production on 25 per cent of the EU’s agricultural land.

Farmers contend that existing EU regulations, such as those governing irrigation systems and animal welfare, are already interpreted too strictly. They argue that the new green initiatives are unfair and unrealistic, placing an additional burden on their livelihoods.

Solutions are already on the table, such as the Climate and Freedom Accord, a manifesto of policies marrying environmentalism with basic considerations for the wellbeing of farmers and their customers. Sadly, despite farmer protests, these ideas mostly sit untouched on the shelf, ignored by Brussels lawmakers.

Having said that, protests across Europe have already produced some results in forcing policy U-turns from the EU. According to President von der Leyen, the commission will withdraw the initiative on pesticides and work on an alternative project. It has also temporarily suspended the initiative to set aside land to encourage biodiversity.

In response to protests about Ukrainian products, the EU has proposed reducing imports and allowing only limited quantities. Additionally, the European Commission has removed the requirement to reduce greenhouse gases by 30 per cent by 2040, in which the agricultural sector was expected to play a significant role.

Several member states have also taken action. The German government intends to continue subsidising diesel fuel and machinery for farmers, albeit for a certain period. Greece will extend tax relief on agricultural diesel for one year. France’s newly appointed prime minister, Gabriel Atal, has pledged to defend “food sovereignty” and increase controls on food imports to prevent unfair competition.

A hollow promise?

The recent European parliamentary elections, while not directly resolving the immediate concerns of farmers awaiting decisive action on agricultural policies, were closely watched within the farming community.

With a significant shift towards right-wing parties across Europe, including some that have expressed scepticism towards stringent environmental regulations like the Green Deal, many farmers anticipated potential shifts in EU policies affecting their livelihoods. However, the outcome of these elections did not provide immediate clarity on the future direction of agricultural policy, leaving farmers to continue navigating uncertainties surrounding issues such as market access, subsidy reforms, and environmental regulations.

Despite these actions and reassurances, the announcement of candidates to lead the agriculture committee has taken too long, suggesting these issues are too far down the EU’s priorities list. How committed is Brussels to addressing the agricultural sector’s issues? Bureaucratic inertia has taken hold, casting doubts on the EU’s agility and effectiveness in addressing pressing agricultural concerns.

Analysing the current state of EU agrifood policies reveals persistent gaps between policy intentions and practical outcomes. Recent protests from farmers across Europe underscore deep-seated concerns over the impact of EU policies, including the Green Deal, on agricultural practices. Issues such as competition from cheaper imports, bureaucratic complexities within the CAP, and rising production costs continue to challenge farmers.

While there have been adjustments, such as revisiting pesticide regulations and addressing market imbalances, farmers remain sceptical about the EU’s ability to deliver substantial change. Christiane Lambert, president of COPA, Europe’s largest farmers’ association, emphasises the pivotal role that food and farming now play on the political agenda, especially following recent crises like the pandemic and the Ukrainian conflict.

Looking ahead, the EU’s ability to fulfil its promises hinges on bridging these divides between policy aspirations and practical realities. The upcoming mandate offers an opportunity to recalibrate agrifood policies, ensuring they not only meet environmental goals but also support the economic viability and resilience of European farmers. This requires cohesive strategies that align regulatory frameworks with the practical needs of farmers, while fostering fair and competitive market environments.

As the EU grapples with these challenges, addressing concerns raised by Lambert and others will be pivotal in securing a sustainable and equitable future for European agriculture. The absence of decisive action on key agricultural issues, exemplified by the delay in announcing candidates for agriculture committee chair, underscores the urgency for effective policy implementation and responsive governance in the EU’s agricultural sector.

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