On Monday 17 March, EU Member States reiterated their desire to maintain a solid and independent common agricultural policy (CAP) budget from 2028 onwards, in response to the European Commission’s ideas on the next generation of post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) programmes.
The SCA prepared the Agriculture Council’s policy debate on 24 March on the ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’. The Polish presidency of the EU Council has prepared an information note (https://aeur.eu/f/fz4 ) containing three questions: the first two (strengthening competitiveness and complementary sources of income) were discussed at the SCA, while the third (a favourable environment for innovation and new technologies) will be raised at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on Wednesday 19 March.
After a general presentation by the European Commission, the delegations commented on their appreciation for the Commission’s ideas.
Overall, Member States welcomed the vision and its main components, including recognition of agriculture’s strategic role, the importance of competitiveness, improving generational renewal and ensuring decent incomes for farmers, and reducing red tape.
A majority of Member States within the SCA stressed the need to maintain a solid and distinct agricultural budget after 2027 and to retain a CAP consisting of two pillars (the first concerns direct aid and market expenditure, the second rural development). A few Member States raised the issue of external convergence of direct payments. This mechanism makes it possible to gradually adjust income support per hectare in each country, either upwards or downwards, to bring it closer to the EU average.
Several delegations mentioned the importance of avoiding unfair competition in international trade, as well as reciprocity in standards for imported agricultural products and reducing dependency.
At the Agriculture Council on 24 February, the Commission presented its ‘vision’ and the ministers were able to make some initial, rather positive comments (see EUROPE 13586/12).
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen will debate the ‘vision’ with members of Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture on 19 March (see EUROPE 13599/9). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)