Commissioner's visit to Hungary: "The European agriculture has answers for the challenges of the future"
EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş participated in the meeting of the EPP Group Bureau 'Time for Jobs and Growth' in Budapest on March 5, 2010.
In the debate 'A vision for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and EU Cohesion Policy for the post-2013 period', Commissioner Cioloş underlined that future European agricultural policy should be fully compatible with the Strategy 2020. As a source of green growth and employment, the future CAP will support the EU's efforts towards greater competitiveness. The Common Agricultural Policy of the future should be based on values such as transparency, fairness, efficiency and diversity.
Meeting the Hungarian Agricultural Academia in Nádudvar, Commissioner Cioloş explained that the criteria for the distribution of direct payments should be reviewed, stressing that the option for using historical criteria has to be replaced with new, more equitable instruments, to bridge the gaps between Member States, regions ant types of agricultures.
On the debate on climate change, Commissioner Cioloş explained that European agriculture has diminished its greenhouse gases emissions by 20% between 1990 and 2007. Facing tomorrow's challenges, "agriculture can propose the solutions", he stressed, emphasising the role the farmers have in maintaining the countryside, in the sustainable management of land, biodiversity and natural resources.
Mr. Cioloş has invited the Hungarian Agricultural Academia to contribute in the debate on the future of the CAP, which will be launched in April.
During his visit in Hungary, Commissioner Cioloş also met the Chairman of the Agricultural Parliamentary Committee, Mr. Sándor Font.
