𝐎𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬
On behalf the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA). Its core mission is to promote good living and working conditions for the younger generation in agriculture, representing 33 member organisations.

Intergenerational fairness means ensuring that youth have the prospects, opportunities, visibility and resources to fulfil their ambitions. It is also the necessity to address the concerns of the older generation (e.g., low pensions in agriculture, in certain circumstances hindering generational renewal).

The EU needs to:

>Recognise youth in its diversity: including rural youth and young farmers, willing to lead a thriving life in rural areas, making a living from farming; with a positive impact on their environment and good work-life balance.

>Recognise the demographic challenges – The average age in farming is 57. Only 11.9% of EU farmers below 40 years old; 6,5% of EU farmers below 35 years old. It says a lot about the low attractiveness of the sector.

>Act, based on these recognitions – especially as foreseen in the upcoming EU Strategy on Generational Renewal in agriculture, which should include an intergenerational angle.

>Give youth the opportunities to influence – By offering support (including funding) and maintaining an open dialogue with youth organisations, including young farmers.
>Forward-looking policies – Farmers’ perspectives can be different from one generation to