Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Ciaran Mulloly of the Renew Europe group and Pekka Toveri of the European People's Party (EPP) recently faced off on Euronews' debate show, The Ring, to discuss the future of the EU's agricultural support.
The discussion centered on whether the bloc can maintain its current level of commitment to farmers while navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Currently, 30% of the EU budget is allocated to farming communities, a level of support that Ciaran Mulloly insists must remain uncompromised during ongoing long-term budget negotiations. Mulloly expressed firm opposition to any reduction in subsidies or single farm payments, arguing that these funds are essential for the sector.
"I'm opposed, full stop, to reduction in our subsidies or in our single farm payments," he says.
Conversely, Pekka Toveri highlighted the significant security threats facing his home country, Finland, and the broader EU. Pekki Toveri, however, sees the major security threat facing his native Finland and recognises the need for the EU to reconsider its funding priorities. "We understand the importance of food security and agriculture.
But on the other hand, we also know the threat of Russia, which is not only the eastern border," MEP Toveri says. He added that everyone, including the agricultural sector, must contribute to the effort to strengthen European security.
The debate also addressed the potential impact of integrating Ukraine into the EU. With roughly 40 million hectares of agricultural land—an area larger than Italy—Ukraine's entry could see the country account for 20% of European cereal production. Mulloly acknowledged the potential contribution of Ukrainian farmers but warned that the EU cannot reduce current subsidies to accommodate them.
He noted that, at full production, Ukraine's output would rival the combined production of France and Italy. Toveri, while agreeing with the complexity of the situation, suggested that the EU must remain flexible and find a unique solution for Ukraine.
Both MEPs expressed shared concerns regarding the impact of climate change and the aging demographic of the European farming workforce. The MEPs also weigh in on the challenges posed by climate change to farming communities, with both agreeing that farmers contribute significantly to the protection of nature.
They agreed that farmers act as vital custodians of the environment, with Toveri noting that Finnish farmers have a deep-rooted connection to nature.
Addressing the high average age of farmers across the bloc, Mulloly called for an increased budget to facilitate the retirement of older farmers and incentivize the next generation to enter the agricultural sector. This episode of The Ring was hosted by Mared Gwyn, with production by Luis Albertos Altarejos, Amaia Echevarria, and Lauren Walker, and editing by Vassilis Glynos.
Referring to Finnish farmers, MEP Toveri says: "They've lived there for centuries, they know the nature, the Finns love nature! They don't want to destroy anything just for farming."
