WEBVTT NOTE Brussels Live. Transcribed and translated automatically from the original sound. Mistakes are possible. Independent service, not affiliated with the European Parliament or the European Commission. Source: © European Union. AI-generated: Transcripts, translations and summaries on this site are generated automatically by AI: speech recognition (Soniox), machine translation and summaries (Mistral AI). Not edited by humans before publication. EU AI Act, Article 50. 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.000 Seeking to address some of those issues. Thank you. 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 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.013 Agri, Mr. Šiltus. You have 5 minutes, please. 00:00:05.053 --> 00:00:09.177 Thank you, Madam Chair, and thanks for the opportunity to, uh, to contribute to this 00:00:09.238 --> 00:00:14.600 inspiring debate this morning. On equality between women and men, which is a 00:00:14.648 --> 00:00:19.199 fundamental right and a founding value, yet we heard this morning indeed that 00:00:19.242 --> 00:00:22.147 inequalities remain in agriculture and rural areas. 00:00:22.213 --> 00:00:27.503 With only one-third of EU farms managed by women, and women that continue to face 00:00:27.548 --> 00:00:31.959 barriers, we just heard it again on access to land, finance, training, rural 00:00:32.048 --> 00:00:37.672 services, social protection. Women make a vital contribution to European agriculture 00:00:37.713 --> 00:00:42.458 as farmers, farm managers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, but women should not only 00:00:42.512 --> 00:00:45.688 contribute; they must have a stronger voice in shaping the future. 00:00:45.733 --> 00:00:50.335 And we need more women in decision-making positions, farmers organizations, in 00:00:50.397 --> 00:00:55.562 cooperatives, agricultural institutions, so that their experience is perspectives 00:00:55.633 --> 00:00:59.521 and priorities are reflected in the decisions that affect the sector. 00:00:59.593 --> 00:01:04.028 So, in this context, I would like to highlight three areas of action for gender 00:01:04.093 --> 00:01:09.964 equality in agriculture, if you allow me. The first one is on generational renewal. 00:01:10.033 --> 00:01:14.476 We published a strategy for generational renewal just over a year ago, recognizing 00:01:14.533 --> 00:01:18.361 that attracting more young women to farming is essential. 00:01:18.433 --> 00:01:22.982 Removing barriers to finance, land, skills is both a matter of fairness, in our 00:01:23.050 --> 00:01:27.744 view, as well as economic necessity. Supporting women farmers means strengthening 00:01:27.793 --> 00:01:32.218 innovation and entrepreneurship, resilience of rural economies. 00:01:32.293 --> 00:01:38.233 We heard again and again about that in the testimonies of the speakers you invited, 00:01:38.333 --> 00:01:43.060 and let me also underline the important role of financial institutions in ensuring 00:01:43.106 --> 00:01:45.145 women can access the investments they need. 00:01:45.193 --> 00:01:50.032 And I particularly was struck by the testimony of Mrs. 00:01:50.113 --> 00:01:55.661 Vogelrieder on the role that women entrepreneurs can play on the farms and in the 00:01:55.749 --> 00:02:01.153 countryside. Second point I want to make is on the current and future cap support 00:02:01.223 --> 00:02:06.411 for women. Under the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, gender equality and 00:02:06.463 --> 00:02:08.953 increase in women's participation in farming are 00:02:09.133 --> 00:02:12.665 explicit objectives in the regulation. However, a Ms. 00:02:12.733 --> 00:02:17.343 Kelley just recalled it, only two member states have introduced enhanced support for 00:02:17.396 --> 00:02:21.346 young women farmers or higher investment aid for women. 00:02:21.493 --> 00:02:26.633 And of course, it should not be forgotten that gap-funded innovation and Horizon 00:02:26.697 --> 00:02:30.972 Europe research also contribute to improving opportunities for women. 00:02:31.033 --> 00:02:34.881 So we need to look at the future. The proposed national and regional partnership 00:02:34.933 --> 00:02:39.558 plans offer an important opportunity to make gender equality more visible and 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:44.246 measurable priority across EU spending. The Commission's proposed budget framework 00:02:44.293 --> 00:02:48.618 strengthens gender equality, mainstreaming expenditure tracking, and the use of 00:02:48.670 --> 00:02:51.662 gender disaggregated performance indicators. 00:02:51.733 --> 00:02:57.948 Apologies for the technocratic terms, but you all know that tracking expenditure is 00:02:58.033 --> 00:03:04.611 key. And of course, as part of the NRP proposals, the Commission also provides 00:03:04.669 --> 00:03:07.912 important incentives for generational renewal. 00:03:07.993 --> 00:03:13.691 And that includes also importantly topics like rural services, as well as the farm 00:03:13.748 --> 00:03:18.724 relief services. For example, in the area of childcare and maternity, we just heard 00:03:18.786 --> 00:03:24.058 how important that is. And it is also encouraging for me to hear that in your 00:03:24.127 --> 00:03:28.742 negotiations and discussions on these proposals, you are considering strengthening 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 00:03:34.953 --> 00:03:40.539 farming platform, which we launched on the 8th of May of this year, with a very 00:03:40.590 --> 00:03:47.453 considerable interest. Now, 475 members representing almost all EU member states, 00:03:47.533 --> 00:03:52.382 demonstrating a clear interest in connecting with each other, learning from one 00:03:52.419 --> 00:03:56.110 another, and contributing together to the future of European agriculture. 00:03:56.173 --> 00:04:00.366 And I note also the example of a mentoring network that Ms. 00:04:00.433 --> 00:04:08.347 Phillips shared this morning, an example of the power these networks can have. 00:04:08.533 --> 00:04:13.817 And because of the great interest in this platform, we have it open now permanently, 00:04:13.873 --> 00:04:19.705 so women can continue to join. Women that are active in agriculture or 00:04:19.753 --> 00:04:25.660 agriculture-related fields. And we intend for this community to grow. 00:04:25.873 --> 00:04:28.333 So more women can contribute to the 00:04:28.393 --> 00:04:34.362 experience, contribute with their experience, and benefit from this network. 00:04:34.453 --> 00:04:39.793 So that it becomes a growing community. And the Fliara project, you heard about it 00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:45.327 this morning, is also one of the inspirations for the establishment of the platform 00:04:45.384 --> 00:04:53.233 and its developing activities. We hope this platform offers the opportunity to 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:57.501 strengthen women's voices in agricultural decision-making, to create more 00:04:57.544 --> 00:05:01.582 opportunities for women to take on the leadership roles that I talked about earlier, 00:05:01.633 --> 00:05:04.881 and to participate in decision-making at all levels of agriculture. 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 00:05:10.490 --> 00:05:15.676 this platform with discussions focusing on two topics that they have themselves 00:05:15.733 --> 00:05:21.768 identified, mentoring, and finance key topics that I also heard a lot about this 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:27.443 morning, and I really hope that this engagement on the network will also promote 00:05:27.513 --> 00:05:32.960 further the important topics of the that you were discussing here this morning. 00:05:33.013 --> 00:05:34.213 Thank you very much. 00:05:37.873 --> 00:05:45.159 Okay, thank you. And Thomas asked for the floor, but please, Thomas, really a very 00:05:45.217 --> 00:05:46.417 short reaction. 00:05:47.413 --> 00:05:50.179 Thank you, Chair, for this exceptional opportunity. 00:05:50.233 --> 00:05:54.109 Just to collect shelters, I'm not doubting that there's quite some activities from 00:05:54.152 --> 00:05:57.913 the side of the Commission. But can you please take away two things. 00:05:57.973 --> 00:06:04.724 Mandatory for member states to offer relief services, especially to women, and the 00:06:04.787 --> 00:06:08.222 second, mandatory special engagement for women. 00:06:08.293 --> 00:06:12.957 When it comes to generational renewal, and the third point, second pillar, rural 00:06:13.014 --> 00:06:17.085 development. It's about rural development, it's about rural areas, and to just 00:06:17.144 --> 00:06:23.898 abandon this second pillar is a real blow also to empower women in the landscape. 00:06:23.953 --> 00:06:27.802 So please take this back to DG Agri and take a look at that. 00:06:27.853 --> 00:06:29.053 Thank you. 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 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 00:06:39.242 --> 00:06:40.933 just now some more discussion. 00:06:42.853 --> 00:06:45.029 Thank you very much. I took very good note. 00:06:45.073 --> 00:06:49.452 Thank you for the great suggestions. I also hope that you will try to put those 00:06:49.525 --> 00:06:54.775 suggestions, of course, in the negotiating mandate of the Parliament. 00:06:54.853 --> 00:07:00.227 And then we need to discuss that in the trilogues with the other institutions. 00:07:00.313 --> 00:07:04.925 I want to note on the rural areas, we can only underline the importance of rural 00:07:04.964 --> 00:07:10.492 areas, and that's also why we have proposed to have 10% of the non-allocated, 00:07:10.573 --> 00:07:14.302 non-ring-fenced amounts dedicated to expenditure in rural areas. 00:07:14.353 --> 00:07:16.954 So hopefully that will address some of the concerns you have in that area. 00:07:16.993 --> 00:07:18.193 Thank you. 00:07:18.193 --> 00:07:23.322 Okay, thank you. And the last is Christine Singer. 00:07:23.413 --> 00:07:29.724 From Gender Mainstreaming Network, Christine, you have farm five minutes for your 00:07:29.793 --> 00:07:31.453 concluding remarks. Please. 00:07:33.613 --> 00:07:36.881 Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I will keep this very brief. 00:07:36.933 --> 00:07:41.549 In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our three speakers. 00:07:41.606 --> 00:07:46.415 You have shown us very clearly how diverse women’s responsibilities are in 00:07:46.489 --> 00:07:51.763 agriculture. But also what obstacles and barriers they face and what stones are in 00:07:51.820 --> 00:07:56.386 their way. And I would like to thank all my female and male colleagues who have 00:07:56.443 --> 00:08:01.733 taken such an intensive part in the discussion and also all those who prepared this 00:08:01.801 --> 00:08:05.350 hearing. We have heard very many important points. 00:08:05.427 --> 00:08:11.072 We now know where action is needed, and what we as Members of Parliament take away 00:08:11.136 --> 00:08:16.902 from this is that politics is not measured by what we announce and what strategies 00:08:16.978 --> 00:08:22.139 we adopt. We will be judged by what is actually set in motion, what is implemented, 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:28.340 and what, out of what we decide, actually reaches the women on farms in rural areas. 00:08:28.400 --> 00:08:34.165 This International Year of the Woman Farmer must therefore not end on 31 December. 00:08:34.225 --> 00:08:38.723 The attention we have received this year, we must use to achieve concrete 00:08:38.792 --> 00:08:42.604 improvements. And I think we know what we have to do in this sense. 00:08:42.673 --> 00:08:46.143 Many thanks to everyone who has taken part in this discussion today. 00:08:46.201 --> 00:08:47.401 Thank you very much. 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 00:08:59.466 --> 00:09:03.357 you for this very interesting and important discussion. 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 00:09:11.893 --> 00:09:16.693 in 11:30. Is it so in 10 minutes? Thank you.