MTK's key EU advocacy priorities for spring 2025 will focus on promoting bioeconomy, agriculture, food security, and the sustainable use of forests. To achieve these objectives, MTK will seek to influence EU legislation and strategies in ways that support Finland’s and MTK’s goals. One of MTK’s priorities is reducing the reporting burden through the Omnibus proposals. Additionally, the importance of a successful trade policy will be emphasized. 

Strengthening the EU’s Resilience

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's political guidelines and the commissioners' mandate letters for the 2024–2029 term state that the findings and recommendations of President Sauli Niinistö's “Safer Together” report will contribute to the work of the new Commission by providing guidance for several future initiatives, including the Preparedness Union Strategy. MTK highlights the importance of strengthening the EU's crisis resilience and ensuring flexibility in the face of prolonged disruptions. Key priorities include ensuring sufficient energy self-sufficiency, securing the production of critical raw materials, and maintaining the continuity of supply chains. 

MTK emphasizes that a strong agricultural policy requires a strong budget. In the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), agriculture must have a robust budget that also considers potential EU enlargement and the fact that CAP alone cannot address all challenges. Maintaining the second pillar of the CAP, the rural development funds, is a critical issue for Finland. MTK strongly supports the Commission’s goal of improving farmers' market position within the food supply chain, as well-functioning markets are key to sustainable solutions. 

Vision for Agriculture and Food and a Competitive Agri-Food System

MTK welcomes the Commission’s publication of its plan for changes to agricultural policy. The Commission’s vision for agriculture and food signals a significant shift in direction to ensure the success of domestic agricultural production across the EU in an increasingly fragile operating environment. The Commission aims for an attractive, competitive, forward-looking, and fair agricultural and food system. MTK considers it essential for the Commission to prioritise the market position of farmers, income predictability, and a well-functioning, fair food supply chain. This vision is intended to guide the Commission in preparing the next CAP programming period. The Commission is also calling for greater market transparency regarding how costs and margins are generated and distributed throughout the food chain. The goal is for farmers to receive better market-based incomes, providing them with the confidence to invest in the future of their production. 

Reducing Bureaucracy and Balancing Forest Regulation

MTK sees the Commission’s work programme as supporting Finland’s and MTK’s objectives, particularly regarding the bioeconomy, agriculture, and food security. The programme aims to boost the EU’s economy and competitiveness by simplifying administration and reducing bureaucracy. MTK strongly supports this objective but is concerned about additional regulatory measures affecting forests, such as the Deforestation Regulation and forest monitoring initiatives. The Commission should first address the regulatory projects initiated by its predecessor that risk increasing bureaucracy and administrative burdens on businesses. The benefits of well-designed data regulation in the EU should translate into tangible advantages, both at the business level and across supply chains. Digitalisation is also a key tool for cutting red tape and improving productivity. 

Bioeconomy as Part of Climate Policy

MTK urges the EU to place a stronger emphasis on the bioeconomy. The wood-based bioeconomy and its potential should be closely linked to the 2040 climate agenda and the EU’s life sciences package. The new bioeconomy strategy, prepared by Environment Commissioner Roswall, represents a step in the right direction according to MTK. This strategy should focus on replacing fossil-based materials and fuels with bio-based alternatives while promoting wood-based investments in Europe. 

A new phase in EU forestry regulation has begun with the European Parliament and the Commission. In recent years, forest-related initiatives have largely been driven by conservation goals and carbon sink enhancement. MTK hopes that the new EU institutions will adopt a more comprehensive approach to forest management. Sustainable and active forest use offers solutions for combating climate change, developing innovative bio-based products, improving the EU’s competitiveness, ensuring security of supply, and promoting rural well-being. 

Climate Policy and Agricultural Emission Reductions

The European Commission is working towards a market-based system (Nature Value Markets) to incentivise forest owners and farmers to protect biodiversity. MTK supports this market-based approach and has actively contributed to the development of nature value markets. MTK is keen to collaborate with other stakeholders to maximize benefits for farmers, forest owners, and nature alike. 

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the Commission will introduce a 90% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target by 2040 compared to 1990 levels in the EU Climate Law. Achieving this target will require ambitious climate action across all sectors of the economy. MTK believes that agricultural GHG reductions should be assessed holistically, considering solutions such as CRCF-certified units, CAP instruments, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), LULUCF frameworks, and the future of the European Social Fund (ESF). At the same time, it is crucial to ensure a successful transition away from fossil-based raw materials. 

The European Commission has announced its plan to publish a Water Resilience Strategy in the second quarter of 2025. Climate change, water stress, and biodiversity loss are exacerbating water management challenges. MTK stresses that the strategy should not introduce new legislation but rather contribute to the effective implementation of existing regulations. Improving water efficiency based on local conditions and production needs is crucial. Additionally, the use of nature-based solutions for water retention and flow regulation is important. 

The EU’s biodiversity policy framework is anchored in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. MTK’s position on EU-driven biodiversity policy is that biodiversity loss must be halted and reversed at the national, EU, and global levels. However, MTK calls for a predictable, socially acceptable, and properly measured path for biodiversity recovery, ensuring that proposed actions are proportional to available resources.