Food and nutrition security and sustainable agricultural development, which affect 80 % of the population and involve the supply of raw materials to build up a strong agri-food sector, are the primary tool for development and the eradication of poverty in the country.

82. Believes that agriculture is one of the sectors that can maintain a certain value creation despite the effects of the crisis: notes, however, that there is a shortage of farmers, in particular young farmers and female farmers; calls on the EU to undertake an in-depth analysis of the factors behind this with a view to implementing meaningful measures to counteract it; regrets that this phenomenon is putting at risk agricultural and rural patrimonies of worldwide importance, while at the same time large agro-business companies are expanding their margins and imposing their model of a global food system that entails destructive enviro ...[+++]nmental effects; underlines that instead of big business, farmers must be at the centre of EU agricultural and food policies in order to truly boost growth and jobs in all the regions of the EU; regrets that the present policies are leading to the decimation of traditional family farms across the EU and subsequently to the decline of social and economic activity in rural areas;

87. Believes that European agriculture is one of the sectors that can maintain a certain value creation despite the effects of the crisis; however, the sector is missing many farmers and there is a serious lack of replacement with young farmers; regrets that this phenomenon is putting at risk our important agricultural and rural patrimonies of the world, at the same time that large agro-business companies are expanding their margins and imposing their model of a global food system that entails destructive environmental effects; underlines, therefore, that farmers, and not big business, must be at the centre of European agricultural an ...[+++]d foods policies in order truly to boost growth and jobs in all the regions of the EU; notes that the present trend is leading to the decimation of traditional family farms across Europe and the associated decline of social and economic activity in rural areas;

4. Welcomes the strenuous efforts and the progress made by the applicant countries in the agricultural and food industry sector in preparing for EU membership; emphasises the need for the introduction of EU-wide quality standards in the foodstuffs sector, with regard, for example, to plant health, public health and veterinary issues; takes the view that produce from the applicant countries destined for the internal market must fulfil the same requirements right from the first day of accession and that animal welfare and environmental provisions must be respected;

Agriculture in the CEECs is short of capital, and the necessary investments have not been made, either in farming or in the food industry.

From producer to consumer, from byre to buyer, from pitchfork to table fork, if you like – every link in the food-production chain, be it the initial input by the farmers, the processing of farm produce by the food industry or retail food sales and the preparation and serving of food in restaurants and canteens, etc., should be subject to far stricter control.