Spain leads European strategy to prevent crop and livestock farmers from suffering after Brexit

Santillana del Mar/Torrelavega (Cantabria)

Pedro Sánchez stressed that Spain is leading this strategy, for which 20 European countries have already expressed support, and that work formally began on the National Strategic Plan for application of the CAP in Spain during the period 2021-2027 on 25 February. This is a participatory process in which both public authorities and all sectors of civil society should play a major role. The President of the Government said that the CAP negotiations include "the challenge of converting the obvious into the standard" so that crop, livestock and woodland farmers can make a living and obtain decent prices, as well as maintain their business.

Pedro Sánchez explained that the agri-food sector is one of strategic importance in tackling some of the greatest challenges being faced by Spain, such as climate change, food security and the threat of depopulation.

In his opinion, "the future of European and Spanish farming needs an ambitious and realistic European agricultural policy" that should be based on three fundamental things: environmental sustainability; social sustainability, which is directly related to the demographic challenge; and innovation and competitiveness, which would require closing the digital gap and achieving progress in the digitalisation and modernisation of the rural environment.

Bicentenary of the Prado Museum in Altamira

The President of the Government also visited the Altamira National Museum and Research Centre, in Santillana del Mar, where he was given the opportunity to see one of the exhibitions forming part of the De gira por España [On Tour around Spain] series launched by the Prado Museum to celebrate its bicentenary consisting of a display showing the piece entitled La caza de Meleagro [The Hunt of Meleager] by the French painter Nicolás Poussin alongside the Altamira cave paintings.

Pedro Sánchez underlined the need for "art to travel to wherever the people are and to show itself as approachable and accessible". He then stressed that this project by the Prado Museum "feeds dialogue within art and represents a symbolic rendezvous between artists separated by so much time". He also highlighted the value of public endeavour, which has enabled heritage of such vital importance as the Altamira Caves to be conserved, and thanked the companies and institutions for their collaboration "as they continue to believe in the social value of culture". He went on to say that investment, responsibility and talent are the cornerstones of good artistic heritage management.

The President of the Government's day in Cantabria concluded with a meeting with young people from the sports clubs at the 'Severino Prieto' Municipal Bowling Stadium. Torrelavega has more than 20 bowling venues and a large group of people live from and keep this sport alive.

Non official translation