The president of the influential farmers union FNSEA expressed regret over Paris’s lack of involvement in shaping the new European Commission, urging French politicians to reengage actively in Brussels, in a press conference on Thursday (29 August).

“France is not sufficiently present in Brussels, in the construction of the future Commission, and in the choice of the new Commissioner,” the president of the biggest French farmers’ union, Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d’Exploitants Agricoles (FNSEA), Arnaud Rousseau, said in a press conference on Thursday (29 August).

Rousseau also urged national authorities to help farmers, hit this summer by the lowest cereal harvests in 40 years and diseases affecting their livestock.

At the press conference, the leaders of FNSEA and the Young Farmers organisation (Jeunes Agriculteurs, JA) presented a series of proposals for the major agricultural policy law, promised by the former government, but yet to be approved by the French parliament.

Rousseau complained strongly that his country had neglected discussions on EU issues since the end of the European elections. “It is heartbreaking,” he said.

Next Commissioner

The future European Commission and the role of the next Commissioner for Agriculture are topics that “should increasingly be discussed in France,” he stressed.

At the moment, only one candidate has some experience of agricultural policy and therefore stands out as a potential candidate for the post: Christophe Hansen of Luxembourg.

Asked whether Hansen would be a good fit for the role of commissioner, the union leader replied that “we want a man or woman with strong political power”, showing his reluctance to take a position on the candidate.

In his view, the choice of Commissioner is all the more important given that, as he pointed out in an interview with Euractiv, most members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with experience in agricultural issues have not been re-elected.

“In Brussels, experience helps to influence political decisions,” Rousseau explained. Although he welcomed the arrival of Valérie Hayer (Renew) and Céline Imart (EPP), who will be working on agricultural issues, they will always have “less weight than an MEP who has served one or two terms.”

Control of food imports

agricultural policy was being discussed at EU level. He pointed out that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “never talked about agriculture in the first years of her mandate, but now it has suddenly become a central issue for her, I say let’s go for it,” he said.

The first opportunity is the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, launched by the Commission in January 2024.

Though the conclusions of the dialogue are expected soon, Rousseau insisted that discussions are still needed on whether it will form the basis of the next Common Agricultural Policy, or whether it will be debated or even amended by the new policy staff. For the union leader, “this is up for discussion”.

This autumn, the FNSEA will be paying particular attention to two issues: the fair treatment of farmers in the food chain and the control of food imports.

Only 3% of food arriving in the EU is inspected and 15% does not meet European standards, the farmers’ group said.

Food imports should be tackled “before talking about trade agreements”, Rousseau stressed.

According to him, the incumbent agriculture minister Marc Fesneau “did pretty well in Brussels” in “a more difficult economic context than at the time of his predecessor Julien Denormandie.”

When asked what he would like to see from the next French minister, Rousseau replied that “all I need is for France to carry weight in Brussels,” responded Rousseau.

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