The announcement comes at a sensitive time: one day before Brussels—after years of negotiations—approved the controversial free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries. European farmers have protested for years against this agreement because food imports from those countries are subject to less stringent requirements than those applied to EU farmers.
With the creation of the EBAF, Hansen aims to reduce tensions in the agricultural sector. The establishment of such a permanent consultation platform was already announced earlier this year—shortly before the European elections—by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In response to large farmers’ demonstrations in several EU countries, she convened a strategic agricultural council.
The committee will be established for five years and is expected to meet two to six times a year. If urgent advice is needed, Commissioner Hansen can also convene extra meetings. In January, the procedure to determine the composition of the advisory board will begin.
“It is crucial to involve farmers in the development of EU agricultural policy,” said the new Agriculture Commissioner. According to Hansen, the advisory board is a means to provide farmers with a structural platform where they can directly express their concerns in Brussels and influence policy development. This, he believes, will help bridge the gap between the agricultural sector and Brussels.
Hansen says he wants to simplify and make agricultural policy more sustainable, with attention to biodiversity and climate goals. He also wants the EU to further reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), so farmers can be better supported in meeting environmental requirements without harming their competitiveness.
The ratification of the Mercosur agreement still needs to be approved (in part) by a qualified majority of the EU countries and by the European Parliament. The legal status is still being debated behind the scenes.
France and Poland have already announced that they will try to form a 'blocking minority' within the 27 EU countries. If Italy joins them, that could be possible. Other EU countries emphasize that the free trade agreement is broader and more far-reaching than just the interests of the agricultural sector. They point out that EU countries can also benefit from the agreement through the EU’s export of technology and other products.