European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's keynote address at the 12th Congress of European Farmers Stockholm, 15 October 2026 Lennart, Palle, Minister, Farmers, Ladies and gentlemen It is a pleasure to be part of the 2026 Congress of European Farmers. And a pleasure to discuss a question that is central to Europe's future: How to ensure that farming thrives in a complex world – amid...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's keynote address at the 12th Congress of European Farmers Stockholm, 15 October 2026 Lennart, Palle, Minister, Farmers, Ladies and gentlemen It is a pleasure to be part of the 2026 Congress of European Farmers. And a pleasure to discuss a question that is central to Europe's future: How to ensure that farming thrives in a complex world – amid real wars and trade wars, climate and environmental shocks, and geopolitical turmoil? Let me start by saying that yes, of course, agriculture is the bedrock of European competitiveness. But I would go even further. Farming is part of the very fabric of Europe. To use a Swedish term, it is vårt kulturarv . Our cultural heritage. This means that protecting and supporting farming goes beyond economics. It is a question of our health and the health of our land. Of our long-term resilience. And of the type of future we want to build for our citizens and society. We have a famous book in Sweden, Utvandrarna (The Emigrants), that captures the foundational importance of farming. I have been thinking about it a lot lately – when I meet with farmers across Europe, when I reflect on food security in a turbulent world, and when I hear about agricultural losses this year. The book paints a vivid picture of the challenges facing farmers: The importance of soil quality. The impact of drought. The danger of fire. The economic risks. And the consequences of crop failure. This list of challenges applies just as much to farmers today as it did 200 years ago, when the book was set. Today, farmers are on the frontline of climate change and environmental shocks. This is not something you read about in newspapers. You see it in your fields and your harvests. In dry skies and dry soil. In the floods and the fires. And in rising costs and growing uncertainty. I have seen how drought has gripped farms across Europe. I know how it strangles and squeezes farmers. I understand the constant stress it brings – and the immense cost. According to recent estimates, the extreme heat and prolonged drought this year cost the agricultural sector somewhere between 14 and 17 billion euro . But this isn't new for farmers. In 2022, drought affected 27% of EU farmland. The historic drought in 2003 led to massive crop failures and billions in agricultural losses. 2011, 2015, and 2018 all brought drought to farmers across Europe. Other years came with intense rainfall and burst riverbanks that flooded your fields and drowned your crops. Meanwhile, the majority of our soils are in bad shape – and what is farming without healthy soils! There is a powerful message here. Climate change, water stress and ecosystem degradation are not side issues. They are growing. And they are central to the future of farming. Let me touch on some of the steps we're taking to tackle them. And to make sure that the farming sector is secure, competitive and attractive – not just today, but for generations to come. First, on water resilience. The more I visit rural communities, farmers, landowners, industry and businesses around Europe, the more evident it becomes that water is the cornerstone of our economic, food and energy security. And the more determined I become to fix our broken water cycle. T he Water Resilience Strategy is our roadmap to do exactly that – and it holds massive potential for farmers and farming. It urges Member States to use their CAP Strategic Plans to support water-smart farming. And it prioritises the better use of data and new technologies - which can help farmers to predict, prepare for and prevent water scarcity. I have seen studies showing that AI smart irrigation can deliver water savings of between 27 and 35 percent. But I'm keen to hear your experience with this. The Strategy will also contribute to upgraded water infrastructure. To water management that is fit for today's reality. And to better water quality – farmers play a crucial role in this effort. And it makes President von der Leyen's new European Water Initiative all the more important. The Initiative will be based on the idea that water is a pillar of our security and competitiveness. And it needs to tackle vital issues: Like taking water efficiency and reuse to the next level. Preventing and managing droughts more effectively. And working more effectively across borders. We have big goals when it comes to water – and we are backing them with big investment. 67 billion euro has already been committed to water resilience through existing EU funding instruments. And the European Investment Bank has committed a further fifteen billion euros between 2025 and 2027. This means vital funding to improve water infrastructure, to increase efficiency, and to restore aquatic ecosystems. This brings me to my second priority – nature as the foundation for farming. If wetlands disappear, flood risk rises and drought lasts longer. If pollinators decline, yields and quality suffer. Pollination alone contributes an estimated EUR 5 to 15 billion each year to EU agriculture. If our soils lose organic matter, they hold less water and become less fertile. So, nature is not separate from farming. It is the basis of farming. And that's why we need to protect and restore it. But when we talk about restoring nature, it's not as idealists – it's as people who know how our world works. It's because we understand that to secure the future of farming, we must secure the conditions that make it viable: healthy soils, reliable water, and functioning ecosystems. So, we must reject the false choice between farmers and the environment. Or the idea that protecting one means damaging the other. Europe will not protect agriculture by weakening the natural systems on which agriculture depends. And Europe will not protect nature by ignoring the people who manage our land. Nature restoration will only succeed if farmers are fully involved. And farming can only thrive if we have a policy framework that is coherent and fair. So, we need policies that work in practice. And - crucially – policies that give farmers a more predictable future. That's why the simplification agenda is so important for this Commission. And this my third priority – making our rules more effective, easier to implement, and fit for today's world. The Commission is carrying out a stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives with this goal in mind. We want to ensure that our framework delivers for nature and for the people managing it. The Commission is also taking concrete action to ensure that farmers have a constant supply of fertiliser – and to limit your exposure to global shocks. Bio-based and circular fertilisers are key here. We amended the Nitrates Directive earlier this year, with new rules to harness the value of RENURE fertilisers. And in the coming days we will send another amendment to Member States to include RENURE made from liquid biogas digestates. We prepared this in record speed. If Member States move quickly, this can enter into force before the next growing season. And we will also promote bio-based fertilisers in the context of the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Ladies and gentlemen, It costs money to protect and restore the building blocks of agriculture – water, soil, and healthy ecosystems. And if we want resilience and restoration on the ground, we must support those who deliver it. So funding is key. But this is an investment in our future and the future of our farming sector. It is not a cost. I know that Commissioner Hansen spoke about the Common Agricultural Policy yesterday. Beyond the CAP, we have also proposed that a significant portion of the next EU budget be spent on climate and the environment. Investing in our natural environment is a matter of common interest for farmers and conservationists. It will contribute to rich soils, healthy wetlands, functioning rivers, and landscapes that can hold water when it rains and release water when it's dry. This is what resilience looks like in practice. It will mean fewer floods and less drought. Fewer crops withering and dying in fields across Europe, and more security and predictability for farmers. At the same time, the Commission is exploring ways to mobilise private finance for nature- positive investment, including nature credits and carbon farming. Here in Sweden, local farmers have already sold biodiversity credits to companies willing to finance forest restoration. And I know that similar projects are helping forest owners to restore habitats. These examples show how nature credits can provide new income opportunities for those managing the land, while supporting the natural systems on which they rely. Ladies and gentlemen, Utvandrarna, the book I mentioned a moment ago, is about farming. But at its core, it is really about strävsamhet – or industriousness. It captured the determination of farmers in 19 th century Sweden. And I see those same traits in European farmers today. Our job is to make your vital work as straightforward and predictable as possible. Because agriculture is not a sector apart. It is the foundation of Europe's resilience, prosperity and security. As your Stockholm Declaration outlines, it is a strategic asset. And the key to our future. So, the EU will continue to support its competitiveness, especially as climate, environmental and supply pressures grow. We will continue to protect farmers and to protect the natural systems on which they rely. And we will continue to treat farmers as trusted partners. But we cannot succeed without you. You are the guardians of the land and the guarantors of its future. So, I urge you to work with the EU. Help us to secure a resilient and sustainable farming sector. One that feeds and nourishes the land, just as it feeds and nourishes society. And one that thrives for generations to come. Thank you. SPEECH/26/2173 <@rel_link@>
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