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| Confederation of European Farmers (COPA-COGECA) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Confederation of European Farmers (COPA-COGECA) |
| Founded | 1958 (COPA), 1959 (COGECA) |
| Headquarters | Brussels |
| Region served | European Union |
| Membership | National farmers' unions, cooperatives |
| Leader title | President |
Confederation of European Farmers (COPA-COGECA) The Confederation of European Farmers (COPA-COGECA) is a Brussels-based umbrella organisation representing farmers and agricultural cooperatives across the European Union and neighbouring states. It engages with institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and agencies including the European Food Safety Authority and the European Environment Agency to influence agricultural policy, trade, and rural development. COPA-COGECA collaborates with national organisations like NFU (UK) and Confédération paysanne as well as international bodies including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
COPA-COGECA originated from two post-war groupings: COPA, formed in 1958 with links to European Economic Community founding dynamics and national unions such as Landsorganisationen i Sverige and Deutscher Bauernverband, and COGECA, formed in 1959 with roots in cooperative movements including Rabobank affiliates and Crédit Agricole networks. During the Common Agricultural Policy reforms of the 1960s and 1970s COPA-COGECA intensified contacts with the European Commission Directorate-Generals and representatives from member states like France and Germany. In the 1990s, EU enlargement involving Spain, Portugal, and later Poland and Hungary expanded COPA-COGECA's constituency, prompting engagement on issues tied to the Maastricht Treaty, the Lisbon Treaty, and negotiations with the World Trade Organization during the Uruguay Round. In the 21st century COPA-COGECA addressed crises linked to events such as the 2007–2008 world food price crisis, the 2003 European heatwave, and the COVID-19 pandemic, while interacting with initiatives from European Green Deal proponents and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
The organisation comprises two primary pillars reflecting historical lineage: a farmers' body and a cooperatives' body, connecting national members like the National Farmers' Union (NFU), La Via Campesina, Deutscher Bauernverband, Unión de Pequeños Agricultores y Ganaderos, Irish Farmers' Association, Confédération générale des planteurs de betteraves, and Polish Farmers' Union. Governance includes a President, multiple Vice-Presidents, a Secretary-General, and policy committees that liaise with EU entities such as the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the European Economic and Social Committee. Specialist working groups draw membership from sectors represented by organisations like COPA Young Farmers, European Milk Board, European Landowners' Organization, Association Européenne des Vignerons Indépendants, and agroindustry stakeholders including Arla Foods and Danone affiliated unions. Regional representation extends to members in candidate countries interacting with bodies like the European Neighbourhood Policy and agencies such as the European Investment Bank.
COPA-COGECA advocates across Common Agricultural Policy dimensions, engaging with actors such as the European Commission President, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, and rapporteurs in the European Parliament to shape measures on direct payments, market measures, rural development, and greening. It lobbies on trade matters amid negotiations involving the World Trade Organization, bilateral talks with countries like Canada (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), United States (transatlantic trade debates), and multilateral forums including the G20 agriculture ministers. COPA-COGECA positions on animal health intersect with institutions such as the World Organisation for Animal Health, on plant protection with the European Chemicals Agency, and on environmental regulation with European Environment Agency reports. It participates in dialogues on biomass and bioenergy policies referenced by the International Energy Agency and debates on pesticides where European Food Safety Authority risk assessments are influential.
The organisation provides policy analysis, position papers, legal advice, and communication services to members and engages stakeholders from the European Trade Union Confederation to private sector firms like Bayer and Syngenta during consultations. It organises conferences, workshops, and missions to EU institutions involving members from Nordic Council delegations, the Baltic Assembly, and representatives of regions such as Catalonia and Bavaria. COPA-COGECA runs monitoring of market data using indicators from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and supports training initiatives with partners like European Centre for Rural Development and academic institutions including Wageningen University and AgroParisTech.
COPA-COGECA's influence is exercised through technical submissions to the European Commission impact assessments, amendments coordinated with European Parliament committees, and coalition-building with members of the European People's Party and other political groups. It has shaped reforms in successive CAP packages, contributed to debates around measures introduced after the MacSharry reform and during the Agenda 2000 process, and positioned members during negotiations tied to the EU Multiannual Financial Framework. Its advocacy intersects with judicial scrutiny in cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union when policy disputes arise concerning state aid or regulatory interpretation.
Critics including NGOs such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Europe, and advocacy groups like Corporate Europe Observatory have accused COPA-COGECA of prioritising producer income and resisting ambitious environmental measures under the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Commentators from academic institutions such as Imperial College London and Sciences Po have debated its role in influencing pesticide authorisations and antimicrobial use policies contested by public health bodies like the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Transparency advocates have highlighted lobbying ties with agribusiness firms and questioned interactions with commissioners and MEPs, echoing concerns raised during high-profile events such as CAP reform votes in the European Parliament.
Category:Agricultural organisations based in Belgium Category:European Union interest groups