1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 Brussels Live Transcribed and translated by AI 2 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 Seeking to address some of those issues. Thank you. 3 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 Mm-hm. Thank you. Uh, colleagues, and now I would like to give the floor also to DG 4 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,013 Agri, Mr. Šiltus. You have 5 minutes, please. 5 00:00:05,053 --> 00:00:09,177 Thank you, Madam Chair, and thanks for the opportunity to, uh, to contribute to this 6 00:00:09,238 --> 00:00:14,600 inspiring debate this morning. On equality between women and men, which is a 7 00:00:14,648 --> 00:00:19,199 fundamental right and a founding value, yet we heard this morning indeed that 8 00:00:19,242 --> 00:00:22,147 inequalities remain in agriculture and rural areas. 9 00:00:22,213 --> 00:00:27,503 With only one-third of EU farms managed by women, and women that continue to face 10 00:00:27,548 --> 00:00:31,959 barriers, we just heard it again on access to land, finance, training, rural 11 00:00:32,048 --> 00:00:37,672 services, social protection. Women make a vital contribution to European agriculture 12 00:00:37,713 --> 00:00:42,458 as farmers, farm managers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, but women should not only 13 00:00:42,512 --> 00:00:45,688 contribute; they must have a stronger voice in shaping the future. 14 00:00:45,733 --> 00:00:50,335 And we need more women in decision-making positions, farmers organizations, in 15 00:00:50,397 --> 00:00:55,562 cooperatives, agricultural institutions, so that their experience is perspectives 16 00:00:55,633 --> 00:00:59,521 and priorities are reflected in the decisions that affect the sector. 17 00:00:59,593 --> 00:01:04,028 So, in this context, I would like to highlight three areas of action for gender 18 00:01:04,093 --> 00:01:09,964 equality in agriculture, if you allow me. The first one is on generational renewal. 19 00:01:10,033 --> 00:01:14,476 We published a strategy for generational renewal just over a year ago, recognizing 20 00:01:14,533 --> 00:01:18,361 that attracting more young women to farming is essential. 21 00:01:18,433 --> 00:01:22,982 Removing barriers to finance, land, skills is both a matter of fairness, in our 22 00:01:23,050 --> 00:01:27,744 view, as well as economic necessity. Supporting women farmers means strengthening 23 00:01:27,793 --> 00:01:32,218 innovation and entrepreneurship, resilience of rural economies. 24 00:01:32,293 --> 00:01:38,233 We heard again and again about that in the testimonies of the speakers you invited, 25 00:01:38,333 --> 00:01:43,060 and let me also underline the important role of financial institutions in ensuring 26 00:01:43,106 --> 00:01:45,145 women can access the investments they need. 27 00:01:45,193 --> 00:01:50,032 And I particularly was struck by the testimony of Mrs. 28 00:01:50,113 --> 00:01:55,661 Vogelrieder on the role that women entrepreneurs can play on the farms and in the 29 00:01:55,749 --> 00:02:01,153 countryside. Second point I want to make is on the current and future cap support 30 00:02:01,223 --> 00:02:06,411 for women. Under the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, gender equality and 31 00:02:06,463 --> 00:02:08,953 increase in women's participation in farming are 32 00:02:09,133 --> 00:02:12,665 explicit objectives in the regulation. However, a Ms. 33 00:02:12,733 --> 00:02:17,343 Kelley just recalled it, only two member states have introduced enhanced support for 34 00:02:17,396 --> 00:02:21,346 young women farmers or higher investment aid for women. 35 00:02:21,493 --> 00:02:26,633 And of course, it should not be forgotten that gap-funded innovation and Horizon 36 00:02:26,697 --> 00:02:30,972 Europe research also contribute to improving opportunities for women. 37 00:02:31,033 --> 00:02:34,881 So we need to look at the future. The proposed national and regional partnership 38 00:02:34,933 --> 00:02:39,558 plans offer an important opportunity to make gender equality more visible and 39 00:02:39,620 --> 00:02:44,246 measurable priority across EU spending. The Commission's proposed budget framework 40 00:02:44,293 --> 00:02:48,618 strengthens gender equality, mainstreaming expenditure tracking, and the use of 41 00:02:48,670 --> 00:02:51,662 gender disaggregated performance indicators. 42 00:02:51,733 --> 00:02:57,948 Apologies for the technocratic terms, but you all know that tracking expenditure is 43 00:02:58,033 --> 00:03:04,611 key. And of course, as part of the NRP proposals, the Commission also provides 44 00:03:04,669 --> 00:03:07,912 important incentives for generational renewal. 45 00:03:07,993 --> 00:03:13,691 And that includes also importantly topics like rural services, as well as the farm 46 00:03:13,748 --> 00:03:18,724 relief services. For example, in the area of childcare and maternity, we just heard 47 00:03:18,786 --> 00:03:24,058 how important that is. And it is also encouraging for me to hear that in your 48 00:03:24,127 --> 00:03:28,742 negotiations and discussions on these proposals, you are considering strengthening 49 00:03:28,799 --> 00:03:34,866 the support for women. The third point I would like to make is on our women in 50 00:03:34,953 --> 00:03:40,539 farming platform, which we launched on the 8th of May of this year, with a very 51 00:03:40,590 --> 00:03:47,453 considerable interest. Now, 475 members representing almost all EU member states, 52 00:03:47,533 --> 00:03:52,382 demonstrating a clear interest in connecting with each other, learning from one 53 00:03:52,419 --> 00:03:56,110 another, and contributing together to the future of European agriculture. 54 00:03:56,173 --> 00:04:00,366 And I note also the example of a mentoring network that Ms. 55 00:04:00,433 --> 00:04:08,347 Phillips shared this morning, an example of the power these networks can have. 56 00:04:08,533 --> 00:04:13,817 And because of the great interest in this platform, we have it open now permanently, 57 00:04:13,873 --> 00:04:19,705 so women can continue to join. Women that are active in agriculture or 58 00:04:19,753 --> 00:04:25,660 agriculture-related fields. And we intend for this community to grow. 59 00:04:25,873 --> 00:04:28,333 So more women can contribute to the 60 00:04:28,393 --> 00:04:34,362 experience, contribute with their experience, and benefit from this network. 61 00:04:34,453 --> 00:04:39,793 So that it becomes a growing community. And the Fliara project, you heard about it 62 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:45,327 this morning, is also one of the inspirations for the establishment of the platform 63 00:04:45,384 --> 00:04:53,233 and its developing activities. We hope this platform offers the opportunity to 64 00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:57,501 strengthen women's voices in agricultural decision-making, to create more 65 00:04:57,544 --> 00:05:01,582 opportunities for women to take on the leadership roles that I talked about earlier, 66 00:05:01,633 --> 00:05:04,881 and to participate in decision-making at all levels of agriculture. 67 00:05:04,933 --> 00:05:10,416 And next week we will have a first physical meeting of a number of the members of 68 00:05:10,490 --> 00:05:15,676 this platform with discussions focusing on two topics that they have themselves 69 00:05:15,733 --> 00:05:21,768 identified, mentoring, and finance key topics that I also heard a lot about this 70 00:05:21,819 --> 00:05:27,443 morning, and I really hope that this engagement on the network will also promote 71 00:05:27,513 --> 00:05:32,960 further the important topics of the that you were discussing here this morning. 72 00:05:33,013 --> 00:05:34,213 Thank you very much. 73 00:05:37,873 --> 00:05:45,159 Okay, thank you. And Thomas asked for the floor, but please, Thomas, really a very 74 00:05:45,217 --> 00:05:46,417 short reaction. 75 00:05:47,413 --> 00:05:50,179 Thank you, Chair, for this exceptional opportunity. 76 00:05:50,233 --> 00:05:54,109 Just to collect shelters, I'm not doubting that there's quite some activities from 77 00:05:54,152 --> 00:05:57,913 the side of the Commission. But can you please take away two things. 78 00:05:57,973 --> 00:06:04,724 Mandatory for member states to offer relief services, especially to women, and the 79 00:06:04,787 --> 00:06:08,222 second, mandatory special engagement for women. 80 00:06:08,293 --> 00:06:12,957 When it comes to generational renewal, and the third point, second pillar, rural 81 00:06:13,014 --> 00:06:17,085 development. It's about rural development, it's about rural areas, and to just 82 00:06:17,144 --> 00:06:23,898 abandon this second pillar is a real blow also to empower women in the landscape. 83 00:06:23,953 --> 00:06:27,802 So please take this back to DG Agri and take a look at that. 84 00:06:27,853 --> 00:06:29,053 Thank you. 85 00:06:29,113 --> 00:06:33,845 So maybe now I have to give the floor again to the Commission, but please, next time 86 00:06:33,917 --> 00:06:39,192 you can, or if you want to react, but really a very short, I don't want to have here 87 00:06:39,242 --> 00:06:40,933 just now some more discussion. 88 00:06:42,853 --> 00:06:45,029 Thank you very much. I took very good note. 89 00:06:45,073 --> 00:06:49,452 Thank you for the great suggestions. I also hope that you will try to put those 90 00:06:49,525 --> 00:06:54,775 suggestions, of course, in the negotiating mandate of the Parliament. 91 00:06:54,853 --> 00:07:00,227 And then we need to discuss that in the trilogues with the other institutions. 92 00:07:00,313 --> 00:07:04,925 I want to note on the rural areas, we can only underline the importance of rural 93 00:07:04,964 --> 00:07:10,492 areas, and that's also why we have proposed to have 10% of the non-allocated, 94 00:07:10,573 --> 00:07:14,302 non-ring-fenced amounts dedicated to expenditure in rural areas. 95 00:07:14,353 --> 00:07:16,954 So hopefully that will address some of the concerns you have in that area. 96 00:07:16,993 --> 00:07:18,193 Thank you. 97 00:07:18,193 --> 00:07:23,322 Okay, thank you. And the last is Christine Singer. 98 00:07:23,413 --> 00:07:29,724 From Gender Mainstreaming Network, Christine, you have farm five minutes for your 99 00:07:29,793 --> 00:07:31,453 concluding remarks. Please. 100 00:07:33,613 --> 00:07:36,881 Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I will keep this very brief. 101 00:07:36,933 --> 00:07:41,549 In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our three speakers. 102 00:07:41,606 --> 00:07:46,415 You have shown us very clearly how diverse women’s responsibilities are in 103 00:07:46,489 --> 00:07:51,763 agriculture. But also what obstacles and barriers they face and what stones are in 104 00:07:51,820 --> 00:07:56,386 their way. And I would like to thank all my female and male colleagues who have 105 00:07:56,443 --> 00:08:01,733 taken such an intensive part in the discussion and also all those who prepared this 106 00:08:01,801 --> 00:08:05,350 hearing. We have heard very many important points. 107 00:08:05,427 --> 00:08:11,072 We now know where action is needed, and what we as Members of Parliament take away 108 00:08:11,136 --> 00:08:16,902 from this is that politics is not measured by what we announce and what strategies 109 00:08:16,978 --> 00:08:22,139 we adopt. We will be judged by what is actually set in motion, what is implemented, 110 00:08:22,199 --> 00:08:28,340 and what, out of what we decide, actually reaches the women on farms in rural areas. 111 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:34,165 This International Year of the Woman Farmer must therefore not end on 31 December. 112 00:08:34,225 --> 00:08:38,723 The attention we have received this year, we must use to achieve concrete 113 00:08:38,792 --> 00:08:42,604 improvements. And I think we know what we have to do in this sense. 114 00:08:42,673 --> 00:08:46,143 Many thanks to everyone who has taken part in this discussion today. 115 00:08:46,201 --> 00:08:47,401 Thank you very much. 116 00:08:50,233 --> 00:08:59,405 Okay, thank you very much. So, I would like to thank really all our panelists and to 117 00:08:59,466 --> 00:09:03,357 you for this very interesting and important discussion. 118 00:09:03,433 --> 00:09:11,823 And I close this item now. And I would like to ask our coordinators we have meeting 119 00:09:11,893 --> 00:09:16,693 in 11:30. Is it so in 10 minutes? Thank you.