Students of the Department of Agricultural Development, Agri-Food and Natural Resources Management, within the framework of the course "EU Institutions and Agricultural Policy", visited the European Parliament following an invitation by MEP Kostas Arvanitis, were given a tour of the European Parliament premises, visited the Plenary Hall and were informed about its structure, operation and history.

On the afternoon of Thursday 6-3-2025, they participated, asked questions and made interventions, at the European Parliament event on the topic: "Listen to the farmers: EU-Mercosur Agreement and New Common Agricultural Policy". The event was addressed by the former Minister of Rural Development Stavros Arachovitis, people in the field from agricultural cooperatives, Patrick Pagani, Deputy Secretary General of Copa-Cojega, as well as the Assistant Professor of the Department of Rural Development, Agri-Food and Natural Resource Management, Dr. Ioannis Doukas and the member of the Laboratory Teaching Staff of the Department, Dr. Dimitra Foufri.

   
Dr. Ioannis Doukas pointed out that the CAP has undergone transformations due to external and internal pressures, with the gradual integration of social, environmental and consumer parameters and the opening of European agriculture to international markets, its share in the Community Budget has decreased significantly. He stressed that the CAP must redefine its relationship with agricultural activity, distributing funding more fairly and reducing the management costs of the "green" transition. At the same time, the education of farmers and the use of new technologies will contribute to improving production. Finally, he mentioned that farmers as consumers are also affected by increases in food prices at a time when their incomes are squeezed between oligopolistic markets.

Dr. Dimitra Foufri spoke about the spatial and social dimensions of development in the rural area, analyzing the case of the Regional Unit of Xanthi, where significant social, territorial and economic inequalities arise in relation to the whole country. The low level of education, the lack of infrastructure, the mountainous terrain and the aging of the population limit development, while unemployment and the unequal distribution of income are particularly high. As she emphasized, the development of a region in order to be sustainable requires social and territorial cohesion. To do this, there needs to be social solidarity and economic convergence between the regions. Finally, she emphasized that the CAP under development should aim to eliminate inequalities and strengthen regions at risk of underdevelopment.

More information is available at the site of hub.uoa.gr

LinkedIn0