Highlighting the central place of agriculture and rural development in the EU’s Jobs Growth and Investment Agenda, Phil Hogan has stressed the importance of supporting young farmers and the “top priority” of reducing bureaucratic ‘red tape’ in implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014-2020.
In a speech to the European Parliament, Commissioner Hogan emphasised that “Simpler rules will make for greater competitiveness and will enhance the job-creating potential of agriculture, of rural areas and of agricultural trade.” The Commission is “working to improve access to finance for farmers, particularly young farmers, as they start their career in agriculture.”
Agriculture MEPs welcomed Commissioner Hogan’s plans to simplify the CAP, but also called for more actions to help milk farmers facing a “crisis in the dairy sector”.
