Ursula von der Leyen calls for ‘consensus’ amid ‘polarisation’ in agriculture as French farmers continue protests – Europe live | World news

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Here are photos from France this morning, where farmers are continuing to block roads.

A French farmer rides his tractor with a banner reading 'Farming, as a child we dream of it, as an adult we die of it, we are walking on our heads' next to a coffin, as they block the A16 highway.
A French farmer rides his tractor with a banner reading ‘Farming, as a child we dream of it, as an adult we die of it, we are walking on our heads’ next to a coffin, as they block the A16 highway. Photograph: Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
A French farmer walks past tractors as they block the A16 highway south of Beauvais towards Paris.
A French farmer walks past tractors as they block the A16 highway south of Beauvais towards Paris. Photograph: Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images

EU Commission president calls for ‘new consensus’ amid ‘polarisation’ over agriculture sector

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, said today there was a “sense of urgency” that things had to improve for Europe’s agriculture sector.

Citing “polarisation”, she said that discussions now aim “to find a new consensus on issues which we all struggle with.”

Her comments come at a time when farmers’ protests are taking place across several European countries and as the bloc prepares for European parliament elections in June.

The commission president said:

I think we all sense that there is an increasing division and polarisation when it comes to topics relevant and related to agriculture. And I’m deeply convinced that we can only overcome this polarisation that we all sense by dialogue.

Speaking at the launch of a dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU, von der Leyen – who is widely expected to seek a second term – added:

I’m glad to see representatives from our farmers, farm workers, rural communities who are the custodians of our best traditions.

Von der Leyen also said:

What I took away from the meeting yesterday, or the informal dinner yesterday evening, is that we all have the same sense of urgency, that things have to improve, and that we have to find a new way forward, and common and lasting solutions for the problems that you’re all very much aware of.

She also underscored the importance of the sector for the EU, and acknowledged the challenges and debates ahead.

We are all making tremendous efforts to contribute to our collective goals of the European Green Deal. It’s existential.

Because we all live with nature. We all live from nature. And while we certainly may not always see eye to eye on all issues, we all agree that the challenges are without any question mounting.

Now be it the competition from abroad, be it overregulation at home, be it climate change, or the loss of biodiversity, or be it demographic decline, just to name a few of the challenges we have been also discussing yesterday.

What agrifood in Europe needs is a long term perspective to face these challenges, predictable way forward and to forge this way forward.

She added:

Finding a consensus and a common way, a common view on the way forward is certainly not an easy task. I’m fully aware of that.

But I also think it is an immense opportunity that we have here.

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