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Feeding Europe's future together!

Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, we ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, while guaranteeing food security for 500 million people throughout Europe. 

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SHEEP WORKING PARTY

Congratulations to Michèle Boudoin (FNSEA) who was re-elected as Chair during the meeting of the Working Party for Sheep on 15th June! Congratulations also to Sean Dennehy (IFA) for being re-elected as Vice-Chair and Raúl Muñiz Cimas (Cooperativas Agroalimentarias) for being elected as Vice-Chair! The main priorities for the Chair includes tackling the administrative simplification for breeders and the solutions to encourage the promotion of the product, as well as to increase sheep-meat self-sufficiency within the European Union and the defence of the sheep sector within the framework of free trade agreements. The challenges to be faced include the decrease of sheepmeat consumption in the EU, generation renewal and trade negotiations with third countries.

16/06/2021

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Key Highlights

Policy

Agriculture is one of the most integrated sectors at European level and lies at the heart of many European institution initiatives. Copa and Cogeca organise themselves so as to respond to the challenges and questions posed by European decision-makers, allowing European farmers and cooperatives to put forward their views and proposals concerning a multitude of subjects that directly affect farmers no matter what agricultural activity they are involved in. In the following 12 categories, you will find our positions on key issues affecting the future of European agriculture.

million livestock units

in Europe


million farmers

in Europe


hectares in average per farm

in Europe

Our Vision – We Farm 4 EU

The coming decade is pivotal for EU agriculture. Many challenges lie ahead. We will face difficult debates on generation renewal, low farm income, market volatility and climate change. As European farmers and cooperatives, we are aware of and ready to navigate these difficult issues and to weather the changes in store. We seek to deliver the type of agriculture that our citizens expect and demand: agriculture that provides a high level of food security and high standards of quality, welfare, sustainability and environmental protection. This is our commitment to Europe! In return, we look to Europe’s leaders to deliver the policy framework that will feed our future.  

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LATEST NEWS






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Copa-Cogeca, Europatat, Euroseeds and Starch Europe’s statement on New Genomic Techniques in potato breeding

Potatoes are the fourth most important food crop in the world after corn, rice and wheat and play an important role in Europe and worldwide in ensuring food security. Their short cultivation cycle and adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions have helped potatoes to spread from their South American roots across multiple geographical borders.

23.06.2021 #JOINT STATEMENT

An animal welfare labelling system following the conditions proposed by the Commission’s Animal Welfare Platform - Yes, we can!

Today the conclusions of the animal welfare labelling subgroup of the Commission’s Animal Welfare Platform were released. Copa and Cogeca welcomes the main conclusions of this report, which recommends, among other things, the establishment of a voluntary labelling scheme at EU-level based on a multi-tier system that would be flexible enough to integrate existing initiatives and reflect the diversity of livestock farming in the Union.

22.06.2021 #STATEMENT

Against the dramatic disruption to the fruit and vegetable market caused by the EU-Morocco agreement, Copa and Cogeca call on Commissioner Dombrovskis to take swift action

In a letter sent to Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, Copa and Cogeca express its growing concern about the consequences of the EU-Morocco agreement on the fruit and vegetable markets and in particular the tomato market. With the cumulative effects of Brexit, the EU tomato prices have plummeted to levels that do not cover the production costs for most European growers, putting the production at risk in strategic regions of the EU.

22.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Excluding livestock products from the EU Promotion Policy would be both an environmental and economic aberration

Today in Brussels, MEP Elsi Katainen (Renew) hosted an Parliamentary Intergroup event "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Sustainable Development" on the future of the EU promotion policy. The debate focused on the promotion of livestock products. An opportunity to underline a clear fact: it would not make sense both from a sustainability and a competitiveness point of view to exclude the livestock sector from the promotion policy.

17.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Opinion of the European Social Partners in Agriculture on the European Labour Authority Campaign on Seasonal Work

The European agricultural sector largely depends on the work of mobile and migrant workers, being them EU citizens or third country nationals. Every year, during the harvesting period, hundreds of thousands of mobile workers move from their country of origin to another country to be employed in our sector. To do so, mobile workers exercise their rights of free movement inside the Single Market with the expectation of being employed in full respect of the applicable working and employment conditions. Employers benefit from the contribution of mobile and migrant workers minimising the risk of labour shortages.

16.06.2021 #OPINION

The wind of change - Copa and Cogeca welcome the suspension of all retaliatory tariffs linked to the Airbus-Boeing trade disputes

Today, the US and EU agreed on a five-year suspension of all retaliatory tariffs stemming from WTO disputes over government subsidies to aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. The goal is that in the next five years both sides reach a negotiated and permanent solution while easing the burden on the sectors on both sides of the Atlantic, which are being harmed by the retaliatory tariffs.

15.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

EU agri-food chain urges political leaders to resolve trade disputes and strengthen transatlantic cooperation

Ahead of the EU-US summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels, the EU agri-food chain, represented by Copa-Cogeca, CELCAA and FoodDrinkEurope, call on political leaders to build on the current positive momentum in the transatlantic relationship to resolve on-going transatlantic disputes and to permanently remove retaliatory tariffs on agri-food products.

11.06.2021 #JOINT STATEMENT

EU Parliament resolution brings back farming economic realities into the cage use debate

Today, the European Parliament voted on the resolution proposed by MEP Norbert Lins (EPP, DE) on the “End of Cage Age” initiative. More than the policy marketing that allowed this initiative to go ahead, the European Parliament's focus is on the problems that will arise in its implementation.

10.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Freshfel Europe & Copa-Cogeca bring fresh eyes to the EU promotion of fruits, vegetables & other agricultural products

Today Freshfel Europe and Copa-Cogeca jointly held an online public event, ‘Bringing fresh eyes to the promotion of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products’, to put a spotlight on the upcoming reform of the European Commission promotion policy for agricultural products. The joint event highlighted the need for a strong, efficient and effective European promotion policy that is reinforced and adjusted to provide EU added value to agricultural products. 200 participants joined the high-level event from the European Commission, European Parliament, Member State representations in charge of promotion, associations and beneficiaries of programmes from across Europe, agencies, and producers and traders.

09.06.2021 #JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Biodiversity Strategy – the new EU Parliament sustainability concept disregards realities on the ground

Copa and Cogeca are disappointed by the European Parliament views on the biodiversity strategy approved on Tuesday night during the Strasbourg plenary. The final text even proposed a redefinition of the key concept of sustainability, side-lining economic and social dimensions.

09.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Thirteen partners of the Agri-Food Chain Roundtable on Plant Protection react to Farm to Fork targets on plant protection products in a joint letter

Following the anniversary of the Farm to Fork Strategy on 20th May, today several members of the Agri-Food Chain Roundtable on Plant Protection have released a co-signed open letter about the importance of a holistic assessment before making any decisions about the reduction of pesticide use, including the target for 50% reduction of the use of chemicals as set in the Farm to Fork Strategy.

31.05.2021 #JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Copa and Cogeca express growing frustration after the lack of political agreement on the CAP trilogue and point to the direct responsibility of the Agriculture Commissioner in this setback

After failing to reach an agreement during the CAP trilogue, considered key by stakeholders from all parts, Copa and Cogeca are extremely disappointed with the state of discussions on the future of the CAP. This failure was foreseeable due to the weakness and poor understanding of the Agriculture Commissioner regarding the reality of farming in Europe.

28.05.2021 #STATEMENT

Will the European Union's vision for the UN Food Systems Summit succeed?

This week the European agricultural news will be dominated by the CAP trialogue negotiations, but other important issues are also being discussed in parallel. Among those, the European Council released today its position on the priorities of the Union vis-à-vis the United Nations Summit on Food Systems. Following the position adopted by the Council, the discussions that will take place in Rome and New York in the coming months should follow the European logic of the Farm to Fork strategy. The big question is - will other countries follow us?

28.05.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Further away from the reality on the ground - ENVI Committee vote on the Biodiversity Strategy offers few solutions for Member States and farmers

Whilst the CAP trilogue has not yet been concluded, the Parliament's Environment Committee adopted today their report on the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030. Agriculture and forestry are once again at the heart of an EU strategy and once again we are facing unrealistic objectives in clear disconnection with on-the-ground realities. Wherever agriculture has been managed by ideology, it has failed. While farmer communities see some positive elements on international trade, Copa and Cogeca is highly concerned by the dogmatic approach that calls into question the very concept of sustainability while proposing few genuine options for farmers and Member States.

28.05.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Copa and Cogeca call upon EU CAP negotiators to assume their responsibilities in reaching a compromise that equally safeguards the economic and environmental performance

As the CAP trialogue negotiations continue, Copa and Cogeca express their deep concerns about the latest developments in the talks. The Common Agricultural Policy determines the income of millions of farmers, our food security, our strategic independence and the sustainability of our territories.

27.05.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Without a comprehensive impact assessment, we will not be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Farm to Fork strategy.

Today marks one year to the day since the Farm to Fork strategy was presented in Brussels by the European Commission. However, we cannot celebrate its anniversary, as the strategy still raises too many questions in the European farming and agri-food community. A year of intense debate has only increased the number of our concerns.

18.05.2021 #JOINT DECLARATION

Statement: On the release of the Zero pollution action plan

The Zero pollution action plan is an important component of the Green Deal. We support the overall Action Plan’s approach considering that slowing down economic activities to prevent pollution is not the best way to prevent and reduce pollution. In fact, European agriculture managed to reduce ammonia pollution significantly, among other emissions and releases, in parallel with increasing productivity and constantly moving towards a more sustainable food production.

12.05.2021 #STATEMENT

Copa-Cogeca’s Working Party on Research & Innovation and the European Technology Platform “Food for Life”: Joint strategic priorities for research and innovation 2021

The EU’s future Research & Innovation policy plays a fundamental role in helping the EU agri-foodsector to address major global challenges such as climate change, food security, the occurrence ofnon-communicable diseases, and increasing societal demands. It will also be important in providingsolutions that will enable the sector to enhance its sustainability and competitiveness whilstcontributing to the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and objectives ofthe European Green Deal.

07.05.2021 #JOINT STATEMENT

LATEST NEWS






See all Subscribe

Copa-Cogeca, Europatat, Euroseeds and Starch Europe’s statement on New Genomic Techniques in potato breeding

Potatoes are the fourth most important food crop in the world after corn, rice and wheat and play an important role in Europe and worldwide in ensuring food security. Their short cultivation cycle and adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions have helped potatoes to spread from their South American roots across multiple geographical borders.

23.06.2021 #JOINT STATEMENT

An animal welfare labelling system following the conditions proposed by the Commission’s Animal Welfare Platform - Yes, we can!

Today the conclusions of the animal welfare labelling subgroup of the Commission’s Animal Welfare Platform were released. Copa and Cogeca welcomes the main conclusions of this report, which recommends, among other things, the establishment of a voluntary labelling scheme at EU-level based on a multi-tier system that would be flexible enough to integrate existing initiatives and reflect the diversity of livestock farming in the Union.

22.06.2021 #STATEMENT

Against the dramatic disruption to the fruit and vegetable market caused by the EU-Morocco agreement, Copa and Cogeca call on Commissioner Dombrovskis to take swift action

In a letter sent to Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, Copa and Cogeca express its growing concern about the consequences of the EU-Morocco agreement on the fruit and vegetable markets and in particular the tomato market. With the cumulative effects of Brexit, the EU tomato prices have plummeted to levels that do not cover the production costs for most European growers, putting the production at risk in strategic regions of the EU.

22.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Excluding livestock products from the EU Promotion Policy would be both an environmental and economic aberration

Today in Brussels, MEP Elsi Katainen (Renew) hosted an Parliamentary Intergroup event "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Sustainable Development" on the future of the EU promotion policy. The debate focused on the promotion of livestock products. An opportunity to underline a clear fact: it would not make sense both from a sustainability and a competitiveness point of view to exclude the livestock sector from the promotion policy.

17.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Opinion of the European Social Partners in Agriculture on the European Labour Authority Campaign on Seasonal Work

The European agricultural sector largely depends on the work of mobile and migrant workers, being them EU citizens or third country nationals. Every year, during the harvesting period, hundreds of thousands of mobile workers move from their country of origin to another country to be employed in our sector. To do so, mobile workers exercise their rights of free movement inside the Single Market with the expectation of being employed in full respect of the applicable working and employment conditions. Employers benefit from the contribution of mobile and migrant workers minimising the risk of labour shortages.

16.06.2021 #OPINION

The wind of change - Copa and Cogeca welcome the suspension of all retaliatory tariffs linked to the Airbus-Boeing trade disputes

Today, the US and EU agreed on a five-year suspension of all retaliatory tariffs stemming from WTO disputes over government subsidies to aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. The goal is that in the next five years both sides reach a negotiated and permanent solution while easing the burden on the sectors on both sides of the Atlantic, which are being harmed by the retaliatory tariffs.

15.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

EU agri-food chain urges political leaders to resolve trade disputes and strengthen transatlantic cooperation

Ahead of the EU-US summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels, the EU agri-food chain, represented by Copa-Cogeca, CELCAA and FoodDrinkEurope, call on political leaders to build on the current positive momentum in the transatlantic relationship to resolve on-going transatlantic disputes and to permanently remove retaliatory tariffs on agri-food products.

11.06.2021 #JOINT STATEMENT

EU Parliament resolution brings back farming economic realities into the cage use debate

Today, the European Parliament voted on the resolution proposed by MEP Norbert Lins (EPP, DE) on the “End of Cage Age” initiative. More than the policy marketing that allowed this initiative to go ahead, the European Parliament's focus is on the problems that will arise in its implementation.

10.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Freshfel Europe & Copa-Cogeca bring fresh eyes to the EU promotion of fruits, vegetables & other agricultural products

Today Freshfel Europe and Copa-Cogeca jointly held an online public event, ‘Bringing fresh eyes to the promotion of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products’, to put a spotlight on the upcoming reform of the European Commission promotion policy for agricultural products. The joint event highlighted the need for a strong, efficient and effective European promotion policy that is reinforced and adjusted to provide EU added value to agricultural products. 200 participants joined the high-level event from the European Commission, European Parliament, Member State representations in charge of promotion, associations and beneficiaries of programmes from across Europe, agencies, and producers and traders.

09.06.2021 #JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Biodiversity Strategy – the new EU Parliament sustainability concept disregards realities on the ground

Copa and Cogeca are disappointed by the European Parliament views on the biodiversity strategy approved on Tuesday night during the Strasbourg plenary. The final text even proposed a redefinition of the key concept of sustainability, side-lining economic and social dimensions.

09.06.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Thirteen partners of the Agri-Food Chain Roundtable on Plant Protection react to Farm to Fork targets on plant protection products in a joint letter

Following the anniversary of the Farm to Fork Strategy on 20th May, today several members of the Agri-Food Chain Roundtable on Plant Protection have released a co-signed open letter about the importance of a holistic assessment before making any decisions about the reduction of pesticide use, including the target for 50% reduction of the use of chemicals as set in the Farm to Fork Strategy.

31.05.2021 #JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Copa and Cogeca express growing frustration after the lack of political agreement on the CAP trilogue and point to the direct responsibility of the Agriculture Commissioner in this setback

After failing to reach an agreement during the CAP trilogue, considered key by stakeholders from all parts, Copa and Cogeca are extremely disappointed with the state of discussions on the future of the CAP. This failure was foreseeable due to the weakness and poor understanding of the Agriculture Commissioner regarding the reality of farming in Europe.

28.05.2021 #STATEMENT

Will the European Union's vision for the UN Food Systems Summit succeed?

This week the European agricultural news will be dominated by the CAP trialogue negotiations, but other important issues are also being discussed in parallel. Among those, the European Council released today its position on the priorities of the Union vis-à-vis the United Nations Summit on Food Systems. Following the position adopted by the Council, the discussions that will take place in Rome and New York in the coming months should follow the European logic of the Farm to Fork strategy. The big question is - will other countries follow us?

28.05.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Further away from the reality on the ground - ENVI Committee vote on the Biodiversity Strategy offers few solutions for Member States and farmers

Whilst the CAP trilogue has not yet been concluded, the Parliament's Environment Committee adopted today their report on the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030. Agriculture and forestry are once again at the heart of an EU strategy and once again we are facing unrealistic objectives in clear disconnection with on-the-ground realities. Wherever agriculture has been managed by ideology, it has failed. While farmer communities see some positive elements on international trade, Copa and Cogeca is highly concerned by the dogmatic approach that calls into question the very concept of sustainability while proposing few genuine options for farmers and Member States.

28.05.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Copa and Cogeca call upon EU CAP negotiators to assume their responsibilities in reaching a compromise that equally safeguards the economic and environmental performance

As the CAP trialogue negotiations continue, Copa and Cogeca express their deep concerns about the latest developments in the talks. The Common Agricultural Policy determines the income of millions of farmers, our food security, our strategic independence and the sustainability of our territories.

27.05.2021 #PRESS RELEASE

Without a comprehensive impact assessment, we will not be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Farm to Fork strategy.

Today marks one year to the day since the Farm to Fork strategy was presented in Brussels by the European Commission. However, we cannot celebrate its anniversary, as the strategy still raises too many questions in the European farming and agri-food community. A year of intense debate has only increased the number of our concerns.

18.05.2021 #JOINT DECLARATION

Statement: On the release of the Zero pollution action plan

The Zero pollution action plan is an important component of the Green Deal. We support the overall Action Plan’s approach considering that slowing down economic activities to prevent pollution is not the best way to prevent and reduce pollution. In fact, European agriculture managed to reduce ammonia pollution significantly, among other emissions and releases, in parallel with increasing productivity and constantly moving towards a more sustainable food production.

12.05.2021 #STATEMENT

Copa-Cogeca’s Working Party on Research & Innovation and the European Technology Platform “Food for Life”: Joint strategic priorities for research and innovation 2021

The EU’s future Research & Innovation policy plays a fundamental role in helping the EU agri-foodsector to address major global challenges such as climate change, food security, the occurrence ofnon-communicable diseases, and increasing societal demands. It will also be important in providingsolutions that will enable the sector to enhance its sustainability and competitiveness whilstcontributing to the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and objectives ofthe European Green Deal.

07.05.2021 #JOINT STATEMENT

Copa-Cogeca TV

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#Welcometomyforest - Meet Pedro Silveira in his forest in Portugal

“Welcome to my forest” is a campaign with a series of video clips from forest owners from multiple Member States where they invite viewers to their forests to hear about what being a forest owner is like, what challenges they face, what objectives they have when it comes to forest management and what keeps them motivated.

#WelcomeToMyForest - Meet Camilla Logarn in her forest in Sweden

“Welcome to my forest” is a campaign with a series of video clips from forest owners from multiple Member States where they invite viewers to their forests to hear about what being a forest owner is like, what challenges they face, what objectives they have when it comes to forest management and what keeps them motivated.

#Welcometomyforest - Meet Jozsef Luzsi in his forest in Hungary

“Welcome to my forest” is a campaign with a series of video clips from forest owners from multiple Member States where they invite viewers to their forests to hear about what being a forest owner is like, what challenges they face, what objectives they have when it comes to forest management and what keeps them motivated.

LIVESTOCK - THE 9 FARM TO FORK PARADOXES

The EU Farm to Fork strategy is high in ambition, but Europe’s livestock sector fears it does not really take into consideration its farming traditions and the huge progress already achieved. EU livestock farmers are committed actors of change for increased sustainability, but they believe that the Farm to Fork approach is based on erroneous preconceptions. European Livestock Voice and the Italian sustainable meat project, Carni Sostenibili have identified a number of paradoxes in a series of short videos.


million farmers and
their families represented


agri-cooperatives
represented


members


partner
organisations