Vocational training — agriculture and forestry

9.2.2015

Question for written answer E-002081-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Viorica Dăncilă (S&D)

In many Member States, the farming and forestry industries are key to rural areas being able to generate agricultural and forestry products and to continuing to protect the environment. A large proportion of the total active population of rural areas are employed in those industries.

The development and specialisation of agriculture and forestry calls for corresponding technical and financial training and expertise in new information technologies, so that Community requirements can be met in the fields of plant health, animal welfare and quality standards, thereby helping to mobilise rural populations and enhance local diversity in order to increase the attractiveness of rural areas, diversification of the rural economy and quality of life.

In these circumstances, in which the need for vocational training for adults in rural areas is closely connected with increasing the competitiveness and diversification of agricultural and forestry products and activities, and restructuring and modernising the farming and forestry industries and the agricultural and forestry product processing and marketing sector, what support programmes does the Commission have in mind for developing and extending vocational training, information and knowledge dissemination to include adults who are involved in areas connected with agriculture, the food industry and forestry with a view to harnessing their potential on the job market?