A European “who’s who”

Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Copa represents over 22 million farmers and their family members whilst Cogeca represents the interests of 22,000 agri-cooperatives. Copa-Cogeca members strive to deliver the type of agricultural products that our citizens expect and demand, with a market-oriented agriculture that provides the highest level of food safety, sustainability, plant and animal health and welfare standards.

The Council of the European Union consists of one government minister from every member state. The Council is part of the law making process in the European Union.

The European Commission is the executive of the European Union. This document explains what that means, the role and functions of the European Commission and how it operates within the EU.

The European Parliament is one of the law making institutions of the European Union. This document describes what it does, how it works and how it interacts with other EU institutions.

Janusz Wojciechowski: European Commissioner for Agriculture

Commissioner Wojciechowski’s responsibilities include supporting negotiations on the future of the CAP, developing a long-term vision for rural areas and developing an action plan for organic farming. Commissioner Wojciechowski grew up on farm in rural Rawa Mazowiecka, Łódzkie region in central Poland. 

Norbert Lins: AGRI Committee Chair

Norbert Lins MEP has been the Chair of the Committee on Agricultural and Rural Development (AGRI) since he took up his second mandate in the European Parliament in 2019. He was first elected to the European Parliament in 2014, serving as a member of the AGRI and ENVI Committees. He attributes his interest in and ability to relate to the situation of farmers to having grown up on his own family’s farm in Southern Germany.

Ursula von der Leyen: President of the European Commission

Ursula von der Leyen was born and raised in Brussels to German parents. Her father, Ernst Albrecht, was one of the first European civil servants.

Von der Leyen is a German politician and physician who served as Germany’s minister of defense (2013–19) before being elected as the first female President of the European Commission in December 2019.