Access To Land
On 7 December 2016, a conference co-organised by the European Economic and Social Committee, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, and the Hands on the Land Coalition will analyse the land situation and discuss possible solutions.
This event brings together farmers, NGOs, politicians and regulatory bodies from different European countries, at regional/ national level, as well as at European level.
Interestingly, it will come just two days after the first presentation of the own initiative-report prepared by German MEP Maria Noichl on “State of play of farmland concentration in the EU – how to facilitate the access to land for farmers?”. The Conference will therefore be an important time to pursue and expand the debate with the inputs of civil society.
The Conference venue will be:
> 9-13:00 European Economic and Social Committee - room VMA3 - Rue Van Maerlant 2
> 15-17:00 European Parliament - room ASP 1G3 - Rue Wiertz 60
In Europe, land speculation and land concentration are an increasing threat to small and medium sized family farms and new entrants. Soaring land prices make it increasingly difficult for farmers to have access to land. In the meantime, investors are buying up enormous pieces of land, sometimes using legal loopholes. Land is increasingly becoming a globally tradable commodity and an object of financial speculation. Examples such as Scotland and Andalusia, where arable land, pastures and forests are highly concentrated since centuries, show the negative effects for sustainable rural development and societies as a whole.
Please find the program and registration here: http://www.greens-efa.eu/access-to-land-for-farmers-in-the-eu-16013.html
The conference will be interpreted in English, German, French, Spanish, Lithuanian and Dutch.
Download below the conference report prepared by the Transnational Institute.
TNI_Access to land in Europe_Conference Report
