CEJA was founded in Rome, Italy in 1958. Through a series of bilateral contacts, organisations representing young farmers from the six initial members of the EECset up a European organisation of young farmers in order to concentrate their action at the European level and to concretely participate in the realisation of European integration. To this end, a "Comité d’Entente" was set up, which was later renamed the "European Council of Young Farmers".
Overview
CEJA does not defend nor depend on any political ideology and gathers a broad spectrum of young farmers and rural youth members. It is an international organisation governed by a General Assembly and a Presidium, CEJA’s main decision making bodies, as well as a Presidency which is made up of one President and four Vice-Presidents of different nationalities, elected for a two-year term. Apart from providing services to its members, CEJA stays in regular contact with young farmers’ organisations and agricultural institutions and associations throughout Europe and worldwide. CEJA also has strong links with different international youth organisations. At the Brussels level, partners include the European Rural Coalition and COPA COGECA. At the international level, the organisation will work closely with the World Farmers Organisation, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and Rural Youth Europe, for example. CEJA’s main objectives according to their website are to ease the installation of young farmers in Europe, to inform, train and represent them, to act as a platform for communication between young farmers and to make European citizens aware of farming-related issues. CEJA maintains contact with European institutions, European decision-makers as well as organisations dealing with agriculture and takes part in 18 Agricultural Advisory Groups of the European Commission. CEJA acts as a forum for exchange and dialogue between young farmers and European decision makers. One of CEJA’s most important tasks is to explain the Common Agricultural Policy, its reforms and adjustments, and to show how the two pillars of the CAP assist young farmers in rural areas to manage the structural changes in Europe’s agricultural sector.
Seminars and Events
CEJA participates at events around Europe related to youth and agriculture. Every year it holds seminars in conjunction with other member organisations, the European Commission and national governments, normally during each Presidency of the European Union. For example, the European Congress of Young Farmers held in February and September 2010 in Seville, Spain and Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. CEJA also holds events at the European Parliament and in collaboration with other EU institutions, such as the public hearing on generational renewal in agriculture in April 2011.
Situation of Young Farmers in Europe
CEJA highlights the situation that young farmers face in Europe such as their high installation costs and their difficult access to land and credit. CEJA also raises the negative demographic trend in European agriculture. Currently only 6% of farmers in Europe are under the age of 35 while conversely over 30% of farmers are over the age of 65. The European Parliament recognised in its report on the Future of the CAP after 2013 in July 2010 that there was an urgent need to attract young generations to the agricultural sector in Europe and that policies such as favourable loans for credit and investment should be considered. Moreover, the European Commission in its Communication on the CAP2020 of November 2010 cited the "specific needs of young farmers will be a priority," in the upcoming CAP reform.
CEJA proposals
CEJA cites generational renewal in the agricultural sector as priority. To combat generational decline and prioritise young farmers CEJA calls for a Young Farmers Package of policy measures to be included in the CAP post 2013 reform. Amongst others, measures would include a Common Installation Policy for young farmers across Europe. CEJA gave its thoughts on milk sector reform in March 2011 calling for a transition period to 2015.
Member Organisations
As of 2011 CEJA has the following member organisations
