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)

_^Sources:_^Eurostat_^,_{^{DG AGRI}}_^,_{^{DG ECHO}}

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 ocean 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

Progress to date

Monitor, follow, and stay updated on the progress of new initiatives, proposed laws and legislative changes under this priority

December 2025
Approval of the common agricultural policy simplification package, to support farmers and enhance competitiveness
Presentation of simplified rules for food and feed safety, to boost the competitiveness of producers, while upholding high health standards
October 2025
Presentation of a strategy to support generational renewal in agriculture
June 2025
Presentation of the European water resilience strategy to enhance water security for people, economy and environment
Adoption of the European ocean pact to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas
February 2025
The Commission presents its vision for agriculture and food

Follow the implementation of the priority

In the spotlight

New forum to exchange good practices among women in farming

Women play a crucial role in European agriculture. To attract more women to farming and encourage the exchange of experiences, the Commission launched the Women in Farming Platform. The platform aims to facilitate mentoring initiatives, foster connections and encourage members to share their knowledge and experiences. Its main activity will be mentoring, bringing together experienced women farmers with those at earlier stages of their professional journey.