Did you know that affordable food and fair farmers’ income are the top priorities of the European citizens when agricultural policy is concerned?

The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that 55% of Europeans see reasonable food prices as a top priority for the future of EU’s common agricultural policy and for 53% that is fair income for farmers. Those are important findings now that the EU member states are negotiating the next CAP – the main source of direct payments for farmers and funding for rural development.

The survey disclosed that an overwhelming 95% of Europeans consider agriculture and rural areas important for Europe’s future and support for CAP runs high. European citizens are aware that the policy benefits everyone and not just farmers, and two-third of them credit it with protecting the environment and tackling climate change. For 90% it is visible how extreme weather disrupts food production and supply.

This background aligns with the newly added topic of European origin. Its importance as far as foods are concerned was specifically tested for the first time and nearly 80% of Europeans considered it very important when taking their purchasing decisions. The significance of this finding is even greater through the lens of the European Commission’s effort to promote food produced according to EU standards.

So, data discloses an evident dilemma regarding CAP in the next programme period because people in Europe want at the same time affordable food products and farmers to earn a fair income but also meet high environmental and animal-welfare standards. To achieve such a balance is not easy.