“Our farmers deserve to be listened to. I know they are worried about the future of agriculture and their future. But they also know that agriculture must transition to a more sustainable production model, so that their farms remain profitable for years to come” .
The president of the EU Commission Ursula von derLeyen said this at the EP plenary, announcing that she will propose to the college of commissioners "the withdrawal" of the legislative proposal on pesticides.
The regulation "has become a symbol of polarization" she explained, underlining that "a new, more mature proposal" will be made in the future.
"The proposal was rejected by the European Chamber, and there is no progress even in the Council", underlined von der Leyen, focusing at length, in her speech, on the farmers' protests.
"Many of them feel cornered. Farmers are the first to feel the effects of climate change. Droughts and floods have destroyed crops and threatened livestock. Farmers are feeling the impact of the Russian war. Inflation, rising costs of energy and fertilizers. Nonetheless, they work hard every day to produce the quality food we eat. For this, we owe them appreciation, thanks and respect", he underlined.
"We launched the Strategic Dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU.
We invited representatives from the agricultural sector, rural communities, the seed and fertilizer industry, the food sector, but also from the financial sector, consumers and the food sector, groups of consumers and environmentalists and of science. We need to analyze the situation together, share ideas and develop scenarios for the future. We need to move beyond a polarized debate and build trust. Trust is the fundamental basis for workable solutions. The stakes are high for all of us Our food production system is unique," he further explained.
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