francais

 

We view the function of the Groupe de Bruges in the light of global and European developments concerning agriculture and countryside. This function was and will remain to provide an independent, positive and constructive criticism of the CAP. This is the core business of the GdB. However, as the world around us is changing, the focus of the GdB has to change too. We have to consider:

  1. What society needs from agriculture and countryside and vice versa: integration of those needs into policy and a revaluation of agriculture in policy and in the public eye.
  2. We have to consider that the needs of society will not automatically be met by the market, Governance is needed for a part of the private and for the public goods where government will act as buyer of these goods. A new social contract between a multifunctional agriculture and society should be strived for with the appropriate CAP instruments to facilitate and support this contract.
  3. We have to research and define these needs: food, health, environment, work, viability of rural areas
  4. We have to distinguish the various production functions of agriculture: feed, food, fibre and fuel
  5. We have to distinguish the various roles of the countryside: agriculture, work, housing, infrastructure, nature, culture, environment
  6. In this light we have to consider the question of multi-functionality of agriculture and countryside
  7. We have to consider the item of sustainability and include in this also the fishery sector: a large proportion of all fish caught serves as feed for other fish
  8. We have to consider the fact that the total of farmers in the EU-27 and USA combined make up less than 1% of all farmers in the world, while in the rest of the world a majority of people are farmers or peasants (India: 650 million; China: 800 million). The implications for democratic, political influence are therefore completely different
  9. We have to consider the fact that we have to maintain a long term perspective: in 2050 there will be 9 billion people to feed. Is this a problem of food production (quantity and quality of calories) or of food access? How can be food production at the same time be sustainable
  10. We have to consider that through enlargement into EU-25 and EU-27 the scene and context of the CAP have changed dramatically
  11. We have to consider that the CAP will primarily be reviewed by the EC in the light of the WTO negotiations and not in the light of the internal situation and needs of Europe’s society and agriculture
  12. We have to consider that regarding to the future of agriculture and countryside we need, more than we have done now, a multi stakeholder approach. We also need concrete examples where a multi stakeholder approach has proven to be effective. For example the collaboration between farmers, environmentalists and the church in Sweden. We should at some point invite representatives of such best practices.

What is the added value of the GdB?

  1. To contribute to better European policies on agriculture, food systems, rural development and environment in an independent way, that is not connected to specific sectoral, territorial or political interests. This will remain the core-business of the GdB.
  2. To raise public awareness. European citizens are not and don’t feel involved in the debate on European agricultural and rural development policy.
  3. Serve as a platform for stake-holders in the debate. Because of the Groupe de Bruges' independent position it can serve as a save haven where conflicting parties could be invited to discuss their views outside of the normal ‘battlegrounds’ and in this way focus more on what they share in common than what divides them or to offer them new points of view to approach the problem.
  4. To serve as a knowledge provider.

 

Mission

Groupe de Bruges