Quality of life

Overview

Europe’s quality of life depends on a secure and affordable supply of quality local food. We enjoy the healthiest and highest-quality food in the world, and that is thanks to our farms and the wider agri-food sector. The European Commission will work to ensure farming remains a core part of the European way of life and will aim to boost the sustainability and competitiveness of our blue economy.

This will go hand in hand with the protection of our natural world, which is home to and an important amenity for many Europeans, while being essential to regulating our climate and ensuring food and water security. Water is a cross-cutting resource necessary for food production, health, infrastructure, ecosystem protection and economy as a whole. As we learn to live with the impacts of our changing climate, we will make sure we continue to adapt to and be better prepared for the challenges that come our way.

A look at the numbers

9 million

farms in the EU

More than 17 million

people working in agriculture in the EU

€650 billion

the cost of natural hazards in the EU from 1980 to 2022 (of which around 16% in 2021-22)

Objectives

Over the course of the Commission’s mandate between 2024-2029 and to sustain our quality of life, we will

Build a competitive and resilient agriculture and food system and safeguard biodiversity
to support our farmers and safeguard our healthy food
Adapt and prepare for a changing climate
to be ready and help those affected

How we will achieve our objectives

To sustain EU citizens' quality of life, the Commission will

Build a competitive and resilient agriculture and food system, safeguarding biodiversity

The Commission will

present a Vision for Agriculture and Food to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our farming sector
ensure that the EU budget and the EU common agricultural policy are targeted, with the right balance between incentives, investments and regulation
support family farms and enable farmers to work their land without excessive bureaucracy
reward farmers who work with nature, preserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems and help to decarbonise our economy
support the competitiveness of our entire food value chain through investment and innovation on farms, in cooperatives, agri-food businesses and SMEs
protect Europe’s food sovereignty, including fisheries in our coastal communities
propose a European Oceans Pact that will boost the blue economy and ensure the sustainability of our oceans
strengthen Europe’s water security and promote competitiveness of EU’s water industry by presenting a European Water Resilience Strategy
work on incentives for nature positive actions and private investments in nature, in particular by developing nature credits
work towards meeting our international biodiversity commitments, such as those taken in the Kunming Montreal Agreement

Boost climate adaptation, preparedness and solidarity

One of the greatest risks to our security is the impact of climate change. That is why we will

aim to develop a European Civil Defence Mechanism, looking at all facets of crisis and disaster management, along community resilience building
step up work on climate resilience and preparedness
develop a European Climate Adaptation Plan, to support Member States with preparedness and planning and ensure regular science-based risk assessments

In the spotlight

EU helps channel flood relief support for Spain

Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in response to devastating floods in the country. France and Portugal have quickly mobilised waste management machinery and vehicles to assist operations in the affected areas. Other European countries have also expressed their readiness to help.