EU agricultural budget: European farmers' associations warn of a "historic mistake"

The EU Commission must stick to the separate EU fund for agriculture. Anything else would be a "historic mistake." This is how the farmers' associations are energetically turning to Ursula von der Leyen. If the EU Commission were to push through its plans for the agricultural budget, it would be a "historic misstep." At least that is the conviction of the European farmers' associations. They have addressed an open letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with their umbrella organization Copa-Cogeca. In it they write: "Abolishing the two-pillar structure of the CAP and using a single national program for each Member State will lead to a further loss of coherence in European policy. This will also have far-reaching consequences for food production and the preservation of vibrant rural areas in the EU." Agriculture as the cornerstone of the European "security structure" In times of "geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and growing social challenges," a strong agricultural sector is "the cornerstone of the entire security structure of the EU," according to Copa-Cogeca. Therefore, spending on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must remain separate in the EU budget. This is what the EU Commission plans The EU Commission plans to restructure the multiannual EU budget. In a communication in mid-February, the EU Commission proposed dividing the EU budget after 2027 into three blocks. According to the highest EU authority, a separate agricultural budget is no longer planned. EU Parliament is not keen on national plans Among other things, the EU Commission wants each EU Member State to draw up a spending plan for EU funds. This would also include agricultural funds. The EU countries could theoretically also allocate the funds from Brussels to other purposes. The EU Commission would control and approve the national plans. This is a thorn in the side of the European Parliament. The parliamentarians fear that this step would severely limit their right to participate. This is evident from a statement by the Budget Committee in the EU Parliament. Regarding the agricultural budget, the parliamentarians only touch on it in passing. The budget of the Common Agricultural Policy must also ensure in the future that agriculture is "adequately" and "predictably" supported, it says. In addition, the budget politicians speak of "inflation shocks" to which farmers are exposed. The EU agricultural funds must also take this into account. When will it become more concrete? In July 2025, the Commission plans to present a proposal for the next EU budget. This proposal must then withstand scrutiny from the European Parliament and the EU Member States. It is expected that the new EU budget will come into force on January 1, 2028.