ELARD in the CAP Debate

 DG AGRI hosted the "CAP post 2013" conference on the public debate in Brussels on 19-20 July. ELARD was represented in this event by its President, Mr. Panagiotis Patras and the members of ELARD's Coucil Dr. Pal Hajas and Mr. Aurelio Garcia Bermudez.

The aim of the conference was to bring together the varied elements of contributions presented during the public debate period and to provide the opportunity for further discussion around the following broad themes:

• Why do we need a common agricultural policy?
• What do citizens expect from agriculture?
• Why reform the CAP?
• What tools do we need for the CAP of tomorrow?

The conference was also an important step in the Commission's preparations for a Communication to be issued later in the year that will prepare the ground for proposals for the CAP post-2013.

The programme included the following topics:

• Public contribution to the debate on the CAP post-2013 Public opinion on the CAP (Results of the Eurobarometer survey);
• panel discussions with leading experts, representatives from think tanks, stakeholders and NGOs, representatives of the food chain and European institutions;
• workshops and open debates dedicated to food security, maintaining EU food production capacity, provision of public goods through agriculture, preserving the environment and the countryside, maintaining the viability of rural areas, promoting quality and diversity of food, nutrition and health.