On 8 March the NAT commission hosted a conference on how the future CAP can cope with goals set out in the Juncker investment plan to relaunch growth and jobs in Europe. The conference involved both European institutions' positions and expert and professional views, aiming to launch a political momentum for discussing all aspects of the future CAP after 2020 from a local and regional perspective.
 
During the discussion, EA Group Member Cllr Enda Stenson emphasized the crucial role of young farmers. He called out for the need to encourage and educate them sufficiently, and for the importance of facilitating jobs in rural communities. There has got to be some incentive for young farmers, he proclaims, because we need them.

EA Group Member Dariusz Antoni Strugała emphasized that not only agriculture in itself, but also the whole rural context around it requires attention. People moving out of the city to start a farmer's life have expectations, and these may not be set back by a lacking infrastructure. Next to that he highlighted the crucial role of the cohesion policy for the development of rural areas.