Relaxed, sympathetic to the audience and aptly using personal anecdotes and stories from his own career, (CSV/EPP) convinced MEPs of his sound knowledge of the issues and his legitimacy to take up the post at the end of a three-hour hearing in which he sought to convey the image of a commissioner on the ground.

In his opening statement, he pointed out that the nine million farms that provide Europeans with safe, high-quality food are also Europe’s first line of defence against the loss of biodiversity and climate change. Farmers who are also under increasing economic pressure from global competition and who are the first to suffer from climate change.

Field commissioner

Hansen’s primary mission is to develop a vision for future agricultural and food policy during his first 100 days in office. This he has undertaken to do “in close collaboration with parliament.” In this context, and echoing the terms of his mission statement, he confirmed his determination to pursue the strategic dialogue initiated by the president of the European Commission, which has brought together 29 organisations representing the entire agri-food chain, and on which he aims to build a consensus. Hansen confirmed his intention to “establish and convene in the near future” a European Agri-Food Council whose mission will be to continue the work begun during the strategic dialogue.

He also undertook to be present on the ground and to visit farmers throughout the continent. He also said that he would pay particular attention to the accessibility of the land market--referring in passing to the misfortune experienced by his brother who was unable to acquire 50 hectares paid for by a developer--and to maintaining a fair income for young farmers. In early December, a consultation will be held with young farmers to better identify their problems. Hansen also evoked the memory of his brother, who died in an accident on his farm last year, to illustrate the pressure that small farmers often have to face, a pressure that affects their family life.

The delicate question of the budget

MEPs challenged the commissioner-designate on the development of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will have to be renegotiated in 2025, and on guaranteeing farmers a fair price for their produce. Hansen promised to explore alternative sources of income and encourage capital investment, while strengthening farmers’ bargaining power and promoting supply chains and sustainable consumption. He proposed reviewing the issue of mandatory redistribution of funds to support the smallest farmers. On the implementation of the Green Pact, he stressed the need to simplify the current rules without abandoning the EU’s environmental commitments.

As for the future of the CAP budget, while the participants in the strategic dialogue believe that the European Commission should maintain a budget dedicated to agricultural activities that is commensurate with its ambitions in terms of environmental as well as economic and social sustainability, the European executive is considering a wide-ranging reform of the EU budget that could see CAP funds grouped together with several other programmes within a “single plan.” Hansen acknowledged that on this subject, the decision was not up to him and that he would have to cooperate with more than a dozen commissioners.

Election scheduled for the end of November

Confirmed by the members of the Agriculture Committee--with only the members of the Left and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups voting against and the Patriots for Europe abstaining--Hansen must now wait for the Conference of Presidents (the president of the Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the presidents of the political groups) to make its final assessment of the College of Commissioners and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. The evaluation letters will then be published. The election of the full college of commissioners by MEPs (by a majority of votes cast, by roll call) is scheduled for the plenary session in Strasbourg from 25 to 28 November.

Three other commissioners were heard on Monday: Slovakia’s Maros Sefcovic (trade), Malta’s Glenn Micallef (youth, culture and sport) and Greece’s Apostolos Tzitzikostas (transport). They also passed their hearings and had their nominations confirmed.

This article was originally published in .