Key Takeaways
- The European Commission reaffirmed income support for farmers under the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
- Member States were presented with proposals to mobilise additional funding for agriculture and rural areas.
- Fertiliser affordability and domestic production were highlighted as immediate priorities.
- The Commission confirmed steps to strengthen reciprocity and import controls on agri-food products.
- Further regulatory simplification is planned to reduce administrative burden on farmers.
EU Agriculture Ministers Meet on Food Security and Competitiveness
At an extraordinary meeting of EU agriculture ministers, convened by the European Commission and the Cypriot Presidency of the Council, Commissioners Christoph Hansen, Maroš Šefčovič, and Olivér Várhelyi outlined the Commission’s priorities for safeguarding EU food security, farmer income, and global competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.
Opening the meeting, Hansen stressed that farming and the agri-food sector remain central to European sovereignty and strategic autonomy, with the Common Agricultural Policy continuing to serve as the EU’s core support instrument for farmers.
CAP Budget Commitments and Rural Development Funding
Hansen confirmed that farmer income support will be safeguarded in the next CAP, including a minimum of €300 billion ring-fenced for farmers in the upcoming EU budget. In addition, the Commission proposed allocating at least 10% of each National and Regional Partnership Plan to rural development, representing approximately €49 billion, rising to nearly €63 billion when combined with the Catalyst Loan instrument.
