European young farmers’ organisation CEJA has called on MEPs to stand by measures offering support for young farmers in forthcoming negotiations over reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The CEJA president told MEPs “young farmers’ measures in CAP proposals are achievable and alternative proposals are unacceptable in view of the current age crisis.” During a meeting in Brussels organised by Austrian Conservative MEP Elisabeth Köstinge, CEJA President Joris Baecke called on MEPs to support the mandatory top-up in Pillar 1 as well as an ambitious package for installation aid in Pillar 2. Urging the co-legislators in parliament  to take on responsibility for CAP reform, he stressed that the measures for young farmers put forward in the Commission proposals and endorsed in MEP Capoulas Santos’ draft reports are achievable, and that any alternative which undermines them are unacceptable in view of the gravity of the current age crisis.

The average age of European farmers is growing, according to Commission data. Only in Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands is the trend moving towards younger farm managers. Across Europe only 6 percent of farms are managed by farmers under 35 years old – the cut off point for consideration as a ‘young farmer’ – whereas 34 percent of farms are managed by the over-65s.

In the UK, this trend is especially pronounced. 58 percent of UK farms are managed by people over 55 years old, whilst just 3 percent are in the hands of young farmers. The average age of a UK farm holder is 58.

Speaking to over 30 Members of European Parliament attending a lunch on Tuesday (18th September), Joris Baecke insisted on the importance of major elements of the proposed measures for young farmers and called on MEPs to support them in view of compromise amendment negotiations. Baecke focused on the mandatory aspect of the top-up, corresponding to at least 2 percent of the national envelope, as well as the higher ratio of co-financing proposed for the young farmer sub-programme in the second pillar, representing a minimum of 5 percent of total EAFRD budget.

Over the course of the meeting, MEPs had the opportunity to exchange their views on the CAP reform with delegations of young farmers from all over the EU.

Earlier in the morning, addressing the Young Meat Committee (YEMCO), CEJA Vice-President Rok Sedminek highlighted the need for a ‘Common Installation Policy’ to accompany a new Common Agricultural Policy, Mr Sedminek ended his speech with a call to arms for Europe’s agricultural youth; he stated, “Now is the time to turn words into action. We need strong, effective measures to ensure generational renewal in European agriculture before it is too late.”

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