The Warsaw Declaration: a United Stand for Food Sovereignty

Recently, in Warsaw, farmers from across the European Union and representatives of leading agricultural organisations from several Member States raised a collective voice of protest against the policies of the European Commission, which they argue increasingly marginalise the agricultural sector and put Europe’s food security at risk. The joint declaration, titled “Voice of Farmers – Do Not Sell Out European Agriculture!”, delivers a clear and urgent message: European farmers have reached breaking point.

Representatives of dozens of farming and food producer organisations from EU countries, including Poland, France, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Lithuania, and Italy, signed the joint appeal. The event also drew participation from senior figures in major European agricultural associations, including:

– Gert-Jan Oplaat, President of AVEC (Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU Countries) and NEPLUVI (Dutch Poultry Processing Industries);

– Alexander Krick, Deputy Secretary General of CIBE (Confédération Internationale des Betteraviers Européens – International Confederation of European Beet Growers);

– Luc Vernet, Secretary General of Farm Europe.

The signatories stressed that the declaration goes beyond national boundaries. It is a transnational call to action, uniting diverse voices from across Europe, independent of political or economic differences. This united stance is a response to the escalating challenges facing European agriculture—not just in political terms, but economically and structurally as well.

European Agriculture in Crisis and Rural Communities in Decline

European agriculture is facing an unprecedented series of crises — from the COVID-19 pandemic to rising fertiliser and energy costs, and the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted supply chains and destabilised markets. Against this backdrop, the signatories of the declaration argue that the European Commission’s policies fail to address the sector’s real needs and, in some cases, worsen its instability. A key concern is the plan to merge the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) into the EU’s general budget, which farmers see as a threat to its autonomy and Europe’s food security. They warn that this would dilute its agricultural focus, risk diverting funds to other priorities, and undermine the stability and long-term planning essential for the sector. Agriculture, they stress, needs predictable support, not a budget subject to short-term political shifts.

The declaration rejects the EU-MERCOSUR trade deal, warning it would expose EU farmers to unfair competition from imports produced under weaker environmental, health, and welfare standards. Industry groups stress they oppose not competition itself but the double standards that undermine both consumer safety and European agriculture. AVEC and NEPLUVI president Gert-Jan Oplaat urged the EU not to “sell out” its farmers through CAP reform or the MERCOSUR deal, calling instead for realism to reinforce food security.

The Warsaw Declaration warns that current EU policies risk collapsing thousands of small and medium farms, depopulating rural areas, and eroding local communities. It urges the Commission to protect food security and production sovereignty, not treat them as political bargaining chips. Farmers’ recent protests forced the EU to roll back parts of the Green Deal, raising hopes for dialogue. But the Warsaw Declaration warns that trust is fading, as Brussels now makes key decisions without real consultation, in opaque and arbitrary ways—leaving farmers and producers feeling excluded despite promises of a “new beginning.”

Not a Protest – A Call for Common Sense

The Warsaw Declaration calls for:

• Preserving the autonomy of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) through a dedicated budget;
• Immediate suspension of the EU-MERCOSUR ratification process;
• Strengthening market and risk management mechanisms in the agricultural sector;
• Fair international trade rules, based on full reciprocity and equal standards;
• Effective import control tools to protect the EU’s internal market;
• Safeguarding rural areas from marginalisation and depopulation.

“This is not a protest. It is a call— a call for reason and fairness,” the organisers emphasised. “We are not only defending farmers and food producers. We are defending consumers, the environment, and Europe’s future.” Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski stated that farmers support climate goals but need common-sense solutions that balance agriculture and the environment. He noted progress on revising the Green Deal and trade with Ukraine. Still, he insisted that border countries most affected by Ukrainian imports—like Poland—must be directly involved in shaping EU agricultural policy. The signatories of the Warsaw Declaration are under no illusions: unless there is a clear and meaningful shift in EU policy, the consequences will be felt across the entire continent. As they continue to emphasise: “Weakening farmers means weakening Europe.”

Full text of the declaration “Voice of Farmers – Do Not Sell Out European Agriculture!”, including the complete list of signatories, is available at this link. 

Article adapted from the original one, “Warszawa: rolnicy z całej Europy mówią „dość” – wspólny apel w obronie suwerenności żywnościowej“, by ELV Poland