On the road to sustainable agriculture: European recommendations from the ‘Strategic Dialogue’

This past summer, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was re-elected for a second term, presented her policy priorities for the next five years. In September, the candidate commissioners and their portfolios were announced, which will bring these priorities to life. In this blog series from Public Matters, we explore what can be expected over the next five years in four key European policy areas: energy and industry, healthcare, technology, and agriculture. This week, colleague Evi concludes the series with an analysis of European agricultural priorities.

How do these ambitions align with Dutch initiatives, as outlined in the recently presented coalition agreement? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead on the path to sustainable agriculture?

The ‘Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture’ as a response to farmers’ protests

Earlier this year, Von der Leyen faced the challenge of farmers’ protests, triggered by discontent over environmental regulations and competition. In response, and under significant pressure from her own party and the risk of not being re-elected, she loosened parts of the Green Deal and introduced the “Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture.” This initiative involved 29 organizations, including farmers, businesses, financial and knowledge institutions, and NGOs.

The result was a report of over 100 pages, presented on September 4, containing guidelines for agriculture that emphasize the importance of the sector for both food security and Europe’s geopolitical position. The report focuses on innovation in agriculture as a driver for sustainability and sets benchmarks for risk management to protect farmers from crises and extreme weather conditions. Regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the report suggests adjustments to better address climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource pressure, with income support continuing until 2042. Participants also called for a European transition fund and a €3 billion loan facility to support farmers in the transition. Additionally, member states should be able to implement existing nature and environmental directives, such as the Nitrates and Birds Directives, more easily. While this doesn’t mean the directives will be revised, the bottlenecks faced by member states should be addressed.

A new approach by the European Commission

The report represents a break with the previous Commission approach, with Von der Leyen opting for a less rigid, top-down approach, allowing more room for flexibility and customization. The accumulation of regulations, along with the lack of attention to their impact, was a major factor behind the protests we have seen recently. Under these recommendations, farmers who fail to meet certain targets will receive more support during the transition rather than facing sanctions.

In her outline of policy priorities for the next five years, Von der Leyen promises to translate the recommendations into concrete policy within 100 days (i.e., after the Commission is sworn in, no earlier than November 2024). It will be up to Christophe Hansen, the candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture, to shape this policy agenda in the coming months.

Dutch perspective

The impact of the farmers’ protests has also been felt in the Netherlands, resulting in the participation of the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) in the Dutch cabinet. The recently presented governing program closely aligns with the recommendations made during the strategic dialogue. Both policy lines emphasize the importance of innovation, customization, and cooperation to make the agricultural sector more sustainable and resilient. A few examples: the Netherlands aims for fair competition within Europe and, like Brussels, is mindful of geopolitical trade positions. The Brussels focus on food security is reflected in the announcement that the Netherlands will introduce its own national food strategy by 2025, and the ministry’s name has even been changed to reflect this.

The Netherlands is also focusing on collaboration with young entrepreneurs to integrate technological solutions, such as robots, into agriculture, thereby promoting innovation on farms, just as Europe does. To strengthen biodiversity while financially supporting farmers in the transition to more sustainable practices, the Netherlands is committed to agricultural nature management. This supports the ambition to give farmers more clarity and control over the sustainability of their sector, with a focus on goal-oriented rather than means-oriented policies. The recommendation to improve the implementation of certain EU directives, such as the Nitrates Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives, also opens the door for the Netherlands to seek success in renewing its exemption under the Nitrates Directive, which Minister Femke Wiersma of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) intends to renegotiate.

Next steps

The success of these recommendations depends on how they are developed and evaluated by the European Parliament in the coming period. A key question is how much will ultimately remain intact, given that nature and biodiversity restoration remains high on the European agenda, with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) requiring that set goals be achieved by 2027. At the same time, the strategic dialogue has created a direct channel for the agricultural sector to influence how policy is implemented in practice and how its perspective can be strengthened. This input will continue in working groups under the so-called European Board on Agri-Food, giving farmers greater influence over policy (in collaboration with NGOs, businesses, and supply chain partners, who will also remain involved). While this initiative does not guarantee that future farmers’ protests will be avoided, the ongoing involvement is a valuable step forward in itself.

It is now up to candidate Agriculture Commissioner Hansen, Commission President Von der Leyen, and Dutch Minister Femke Wiersma, who politically leads the agriculture ministry, to meet the high expectations among farmers and deliver on promises to voters. The Dutch EU strategy on agriculture is expected by the end of this year. Together with the Brussels policy agenda shaped by Commissioner Hansen, which will be put forward for decision-making, the coming six months will be crucial in determining the course Europe and the Netherlands will take concerning the future of European agricultural policy.

Conclusion

For organizations lobbying in the EU, the European Commission’s policy priorities and specific focus areas are of crucial importance. Understanding (and timing) these priorities and ambitions allows them to effectively target key decision moments and the relevant stakeholders. Organizations that proactively follow policy developments, leverage their networks in Brussels, and strategically collaborate will have a competitive edge.