Luis Planas underlines the importance of strengthening agricultural and fisheries policies in the Multiannual Financial Framework

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, speaks at the 21st Italy-Spain Dialogue Forum in Rome

The minister said that "there is a lack of cohesion and strategic clarity" in the European Commission's proposal for the future CAP, which, moreover, "does not protect farmers and stockbreeders as it should". Planas argues that "food security is a policy for the whole of society, not just for the countryside". He also stressed that "we must avoid breaking the single market with national support".

Luis Planas spoke in Rome, together with his Italian counterpart Francesco Lollobrigida, at the session "The European Commission's financial proposals and the challenges of food security for agriculture and fisheries in Europe", as part of the 21st Spain-Italy Dialogue Forum. The Spanish minister stressed that "there is a permanent and strategic dialogue between our countries within the European Union with a common objective: to ensure present and future food security, with adequate funding".

In this context, Planas identified four major challenges for food security: tackling climate change by adapting agriculture with modern irrigation, alternative water and genomic techniques; strengthening agricultural risk management through insurance and resilience systems; tackling geopolitics and international trade by taking advantage of opportunities such as Mercosur and India without falling into protectionism; and controlling the rising costs of production, especially fertilisers, to guarantee quality food at affordable prices.

He highlighted the fundamental role played by Spain and Italy in the European food supply thanks to a production model based on quality, diversity and sustainability. According to Planas, "together we represent 25% of European agri-food production and this strength must be translated into clear decision-making power in Europe".

Along these lines, he stressed the harmony between Spain and Italy to make progress on a common position that reinforces the recognition of the Mediterranean in the European project. "Food security", according to Planas, "is about the balance between quantity, quality and price of food". "Although we are doing well in Europe, 683 million people in the world are suffering from hunger and 28% of the population is facing malnutrition". A situation which, according to Planas, "obliges us to act together".

The Spain-Italy Dialogue Forum is a consolidated space for institutional, economic and social collaboration between the two countries, which in this edition focuses its debate on the challenges of food security and the financial reform of the European Union. The event brings together political leaders, experts and representatives of the business community with the aim of strengthening European integration from a Mediterranean perspective. Last year it was held in Spain on 4 December.

Non official translation