45 Amendments of Dan-Ştefan MOTREANU related to 2022/2182(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the study requested by Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development entitled ‘The Future of the European Farming Model: Socio-economic and territorial implications of the decline in the number of farms and farmers in the EU’, published by the Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies in April 2022,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
– having regard to the Commission staff working document of 8 April 2021 entitled ‘Evaluation of the impact of the CAP on generational renewal, local development and jobs in rural areas’,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 13 January 2023 entitled ‘Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions’ (COM(2023)0032),
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, in 2016, the age structure at European level indicated that, for every farm manager aged up to 40, there were three farm managers aged over 65;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas, according to the study ‘The Future of the European Farming Model: Socio-economic and territorial implications of the decline in the number of farms and farmers in the EU’, the total number of farms in the EU has fallen in recent years from about 15 million to 10 million, the level of the decrease being approximately 32%, with the decline in the total number of farms continuing, especially in relation to small farms;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas the downward trend in the total number of farms, which may lead by 2040 to the loss of another 6.4 million farms, representing a 62% decrease on the numbers in 2016, is worrying;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. StressesHighlights the fact that agricultural population ageing is one of the main challenges facing rural areas in the European Union (EU); stresses in this connection that generational renewal is key for the social, economic and environmental sustainability of rural areas and EU food autonomy, as well as for the future of agriculture and the traditional family farming model, ensuring that agricultural practices continue to become efficient and sustainable;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) Notes that there were approximately 9.1 million farms in the EU in 2020, 5.3 million fewer farms than in 2005, equating to a decline of approximately 37%; notes that, by comparison with 2005, the decreases in the number of some types of farms have been much more pronounced than those in others, such that, within the stated interval, the number of mixed farms has decreased by approximately 2.6 million, the number of farms specialising in livestock farming has reduced by approximately 1.6 million, and the number of farms specialising in crops by about 0.9 million;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the low level of intergenerational renewal in farming, while part of a larger trend of demographic decline, is a general EU concern for the sector; recent studies of the subject indicate that farm households’ decisions are no longer exclusively shaped by, or focused on, agricultural and other land management activities, but are placed within a multitude of socio-economic, environmental and political factors; in this connection, the main drivers of the demographic decline in agriculture identified include: the socio-economic context (urbanisation, crises, conflicts, climate change), new agricultural practices (usually generated by technological progress, frequent changes in demand and supply, market and production risks) and the difficulty of the process of accessing European resources made available through the CAP or other EU policies;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights that young farmers play a vital role in the sustainable development of agriculture; expresses concern over the fact that food security cannot be fully ensured without ensuring generational change; supports the need for young people to be co-interested in activities in rural areas and stimulated to become involved in agricultural activities;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Draws attention to the fact that the decrease in the number of young people who choose to become involved in agriculture may lead to a loss of knowledge and experience, a decrease in the level of research and innovation in agriculture and a reduction in investment in technological progress, which could have an adverse impact on the development of the agricultural sector, with direct effects on the decline of this sector;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that young farmers and new entrants are more likely to introduce innovative, successful business ideas and more flexibility, and implement sustainable farming practices; considers that young people can make a strong contribution to the development of innovative agricultural models and the creation of shorter food chains by marketing local products and promoting organic farming and traditional products;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that young farmers and new entrants are more likely to introduce innovative business ideas and implement sustainable farming practicesmplement sustainable farming practices and introduce innovative business ideas; points out that the legislative framework should become more flexible to keep up, foster and support innovation in all types of agriculture;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a fair and dignified income and quality of life for farmers and their families, with access to infrastructure and the necessary resources, is essential in attracting young and new people to the sector;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. draws attention to the lack of successors to many farms, underlining the fact that farm demographics can heighten the risks of concentration in land use;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the price and availability of land, low profitability, administrative requirements and the image of the sector were identified as the main barriers to becoming a farmer11; in addition to the aforementioned barriers, it is also important to underline that access to resources such as water, energy, seeds and agricultural inputs, as well as agricultural infrastructure and support services, can be other major obstacles for young farmers and new farmers; it is therefore essential to take these barriers into consideration and develop solutions and policies to encourage the involvement of young people and new farmers in the agricultural sector, and to ensure an environment favourable to its sustainable development; _________________ 11 European Commission, ‘Public consultation results on the CAP reform’, 2017.
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that the limited availability of and the cost of renting or buying land are major obstacles for young farmers, especially those not who do not come from a farming family; it is also important to note that young farmers and new farmers often encounter difficulties in obtaining financing or loans to start up or expand agricultural businesses. They also encounter difficulties in accessing information and the resources necessary to develop their businesses, and in identifying and exploiting new market opportunities;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that young farmers are two to three times more likely to have their loan applications rejected, namely due to being perceived as a risky investment and because of their lack of assets to put up as collateral, especially for small or family farms;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the fact that agriculture can be an extremely diverse field, with a wide range of career opportunities available to those who are interested in entering this sector; these opportunities can include not only food production, cultivation and livestock rearing but also research into and the development of new agricultural technologies, natural resource management, education and vocational training, and other related activities;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets that young people in rural areas experience significant daily challenges, particularly as regards education, access to quality jobs, social isolation, public transport, healthcare and digital connectivity, especially in remote and less developed rural regions; and sometimes also poor infrastructure and a lack of utilities, especially in remote and less developed rural regions; draws attention to the need for these challenges to be addressed at EU level in an integrated manner and for new policies to be developed to support young people and offer them opportunities in rural areas; also stresses that better digital connectivity can play a crucial role in facilitating access to education, creating high-quality jobs and improving healthcare services, as well as in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets that young people in rural areas experience significant daily challenges that are absent in urban areas, particularly as regards education, access to quality jobs, social isolation, public transport, healthcare and digital connectivity, especially in remote and less developed rural regions;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. notes that the digital skills gap between the rural and urban environments is leading to numerous social disadvantages, regional disparities in terms of living standards, and increased fraud and cybercrime; notes from the Eurostat 2021 statistics that only 20% of the population aged 16-74 living in rural areas have above-basic overall digital skills;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises the complex and multi- layered nature of the generational renewal process, which is influenced by factors related to the private sphere of the farmer, such as the level of education and digital skills, the characteristics of the farm, the policy framework and support measures and the wider social context, all of which should be acknowledged when designing policies;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Points out that the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme may facilitate generational renewal in agriculture by triggering the younger generation’s interest in farming and by enabling the acquisition of basic knowledge for agriculture through educational measures; calls on the Commission to emphasize the importance of educational measures in the upcoming Review of the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme; reminds that the scheme requires additional EU funding to increase the number of children involved and expenditures linked to educational activities.
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to develop coherent strategies adapted to the real needs of the agricultural sector to promote generational change, combining different measures in a complementary way, such as financial support, tax breaks and incentives, to improve links between EU policies and national and regional policies; calls on the Member States to consider giving incentives to people who transfer land that is taken over by young farmers;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Member States, when developing strategies to promote generational renewal, to take account of the specific needs and requirements of young farmers and new farmers, especially those who do not come from farming families, so as to encourage their active involvement and enable the development of sustainable and innovative agriculture;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Highlights the opportunities brought by the new EU Talent Booster Mechanism, to support regions and their rural areas affected by the accelerated decline of their working age population to train, retain and attract the people, the skills and the competences needed to address the impact of the demographic change and boost their resilience and competitiveness
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to provide access, in their advisory services, to a farm succession facilitator that can provide guidance during farm transfers, namely on intergenerational dialogue, legal and taxation frameworks and financial support possibilities; in addition, calls on the Member States to ensure support for free or affordable cadastral services;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States to promote innovative models of intergenerational collaboration, such as partnerships, share farming or land- matching services; considers that these innovative models of intergenerational collaboration can help to facilitate the transition to the next generation of farmers and improve access for young farmers to land and resources; by sharing land, equipment and knowledge, older farmers can continue to contribute to agricultural production and make use of their investments, while young farmers can learn and develop new skills and knowledge;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the European Commission to identify, together with the Member States, an opportunity to create financial advantages and facilitate the purchase of land for young people who commit themselves to investing and working in agriculture on a long-term basis, so that the sustainability of European support and the economic viability of young farmers’ farms can be ensured;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls on the Commission to identify funds for the establishment of a network of economic, legal and financial advice provided free to young farmers, for the development and implementation of viable and competitive projects, in view of the lack of experience of young farmers and the need for guidance to avert any risk of withdrawal from agriculture due to failure to access the market;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Calls on the Member States to identify financial and technical support for young farmers, with facilitation of access to loans or the provision of a form of social protection during the transition to financial independence; calls on the Member States to adopt a holistic approach and promote intergenerational exchange in a consistent and coordinated manner, so that young farmers have the opportunity to play their important role in ensuring food security and contributing to the sustainable development of rural communities;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Encourages the Member States to develop and support land banks and land mobility schemes; to this end, calls on the Member States to use financial mobility programmes to facilitate the intergenerational transfer of land and stimulate the availability of agricultural land for young farmers;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that public support is fundamental in addressing the financing problems affecting young farmers, in particular for women and small farms; underlines the need to support young farmers in accessing information on financing opportunities and the development of business plans, and to offer them free specialist advice to this end;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Encourages young farmers to make the most of the opportunities offered by the available networking initiatives; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure inclusive access and participation in rural areas, especially by financing and promoting network creation initiatives;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Underlines the importance of specialised advisory services for young farmers providing advice and guidance tailored to their needs, opportunities and potential.
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Insists that young people must be involved and given the ability to participate actively in political life and decision- making processes to ensure that their specific needs are accounted for and that policies provide effective support for their development and hence the development and modernisation of the entire agricultural sector;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Highlights that the young farmers of today and tomorrow will be the most affected by the impacts of climate change and by the loss of biodiversity, but that they are also better equipped to seize the opportunities presented by the green and digital transitions; reiterates the importance of adapting agricultural policies to support young farmers in becoming key actors in combatting climate change over time and in promoting agricultural practices; to this end, calls on the European Commission to identify ways of encouraging young people to use alternative agricultural methods and participate in training, research and innovation programmes, in order to improve knowledge and skills in the field of sustainable agriculture;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to factor in the young farmers dimension horizontally when designing policies and funding instruments, particularly by incorporating the young farmers dimension into all stages of the policy development process, from identifying their specific needs to assessing the impact of policies and monitoring their implementation;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Recommends for Member States to encourage the procurement of agri-food goods from local young farmers, promoting the inclusion of young farmers in the development of short supply chains.
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Insists that generational renewal remain a high priority in the future programming period in order to receive increased support; highlights the need for a holistic approach covering challenges in relation to the provision of financing, the improvement of market access, the development of skills and innovation in agriculture;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Insists that generational renewal must remain a high priority in the future programming period in order to receiveand stresses the need for increased support;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the impact of digital technologies on young farmers' activities, and that a strong political commitment is required at all levels of policy implementation to ensure connectivity and digital inclusion; highlights the need to support young farmers in adapting to digital technologies in the agricultural sector, precision agriculture, data collection and analysis systems, smart irrigation systems and crop monitoring mechanisms;