Miljø- og Fødevareudvalget 2024-25
MOF Alm.del Bilag 524
Offentligt
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JOINT DECLARATION OF THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEES OF THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MEMBER
STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Nicosia, 30 May 2025
We, the Chairpersons of the Committees on Agriculture of the Parliaments of Cyprus,
Spain, Croatia, Italy, and the Vice-President of the Committee on Economic Affairs of
the French National Assembly, convened at the House of Representatives of the
Republic of Cyprus on 30 May 2025, reaffirm our common commitment to collectively
addressing the pressing challenges facing the agricultural sector in our region;
Acknowledging
the escalating impact of climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation and
biodiversity loss on Mediterranean agriculture and the increasing vulnerability of
farmers in the face of geopolitical shocks, economic pressures and global market
instability,
Recognizing
the Mediterranean’s vital contribution to the EU’s food security, rural vitality, cultural
heritage, and strategic autonomy, and the urgent need for tailored EU responses to
the specificities of our region and our shared responsibility to safeguard food security,
ensure the sustainability and resilience of our agri-food systems and uphold the
economic and social fabric of rural areas,
Recalling
the commitments set forth in the Strategic Agenda of the European Council (June
2024), the Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission (July 2024), the
Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture (September 2024), and the European
Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food (February 2025),
Welcoming
- the European Union’s efforts to provide emergency support, revise the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP), and initiate the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of
Agriculture, and
acknowledging
the strategic importance of these initiatives for
our region,
- the upcoming adoption of the European Water Resilience Strategy, which provides
a crucial framework for improving water efficiency, addressing scarcity and
pollution, and managing water-related risks in Europe,
- the European Parliament’s resolution on the 2026 EU budget guidelines, which
calls for enhanced support to climate-vulnerable sectors, including targeted
funding for irrigation modernization and sustainable water use in agriculture
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 MOF, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 524: Joint Declaration of the Committees on Agriculture of the Parliaments of the Mediterranean EU Member States
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We
jointly call
on the European Institutions to:
1.
Establish a climate and water-resilient agricultural policy framework
that
places Mediterranean challenges at the core of EU priorities. Climate adaptation,
water resource management and support for drought-affected regions must
become central to the post-2027 CAP and other funding instruments. Ensure that
the specificities of Mediterranean agriculture are fully integrated into EU funding
mechanisms, including CAP and Horizon Europe.
2.
Embed Mediterranean priorities in the post-2027 CAP,
support targeted
measures for climate adaptation and mitigation, water resilience, innovation, and
income stability in drought-prone and structurally disadvantaged areas.
3.
Strengthen the social and economic resilience of farmers
by ensuring fair
remuneration, improving their bargaining power within the food supply chain, and
supporting cooperative models that foster local and regional value creation.
4.
A strong and ambitious implementation of the European Water Resilience
Strategy,
fully taking into account the specific needs of Mediterranean region and
supporting investments in infrastructure, precisions irrigation, water reuse,
desalination, and nature-based solutions, as well as investments in new
infrastructure for water storage (reservoirs, ponds, etc.) and for connecting
watersheds.
5.
Establish dedicated funding for water resilience
in the next Multiannual
Financial Framework (MFF), with strong coordination across EU instruments to
avoid overstretching the CAP and to meet environmental and climate goals
effectively.
6.
Support generational renewal and innovation,
by improving access to land,
granting housing support for young farmers, finance, and training for young and
new farmers, strengthening applied research, promoting drought- and pest-
resilient crops, and expanding the use of smart and digital technologies in
agriculture, as well as encouraging the integration of agricultural and environmental
subjects within education systems and developing regulations and establishing aid
for the recovery of abandoned housing in rural areas.
7.
Ensure fair trade and equitable market access
by protecting primary producers
from unfair practices, systematizing mirror clauses in all EU trade agreements,
advocating for fair pricing mechanisms, preventing market distortions, and
strengthening EU trade policies to safeguard the competitiveness of Mediterranean
agricultural products.
8.
Reinforce EU rapid response mechanisms
to support farmers affected by
climate-related agricultural losses and transition toward a more proactive model of
risk reduction and resilience-building.
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 MOF, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 524: Joint Declaration of the Committees on Agriculture of the Parliaments of the Mediterranean EU Member States
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9.
Support farmers in the green transition
by providing targeted financial
assistance, incentives for sustainable farming practices, and stronger protections
for small-scale farmers to ensure an inclusive transition.
10.
Increase investment in agricultural research,
particularly in climate adaptation,
and precision farming to secure food security and sustainability for future
generations and to support more sustainable production models.
11.
Advocate for a stronger role of national parliaments
in shaping and monitoring
CAP Strategic Plans, ensuring that regional needs and the voices of primary
producers are fully reflected in EU decision-making.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to fostering close cooperation among our
parliaments, exchanging best practices and working collectively to achieve a resilient,
competitive and sustainable agricultural future for the Mediterranean region.
We call upon the European Institutions to take these recommendations into full
consideration in their ongoing work on the future of European agriculture and rural
development and to place Mediterranean agriculture at the forefront of the Union’s
political agenda.
Adopted in Nicosia on 30 May 2025.
Mr. Joseba Andoni AGIRRETXEA URRESTI,
Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food,
Congress of Deputies of Spain
Mr. Jorge Domingo MARTÍNEZ ANTOLÍN,
Chair of the Committee on Agriculture,
Senate of
Spain
Mr. Pascal LECAMP,
Vice-President of the Committee on Economic Affairs,
National
Assembly of France
Ms. Marijana PETIR,
Chair of the Committee on Agriculture,
Parliament of Croatia
Mr. Luca DE CARLO,
Chair of the Industry, Trade, Tourism, Agriculture and Agrifood
Production Committee,
Senate of the Republic of Italy
Mr. Yiannakis GAVRIEL,
Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources,
House of Representatives of Cyprus
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