On Monday 24 March in Brussels, EU agriculture ministers called for a sufficient budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 to be secured in order to implement the initiatives contained in the European Commission’s ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’.
Following the Council’s exchange of views on this ‘Vision’, the Polish minister, Czesław Siekierski, stressed before the press the need to provide, during the negotiations on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, an ‘adequate’ budget for the CAP, commensurate with the challenges, and the maintenance of its two-pillar structure (direct aid and market expenditure for the first, rural development for the second).
The Polish minister also focused on the request of many ministers to provide for ‘reciprocity’ in trade with third countries so that imported agricultural products comply with the production standards imposed on EU farmers (see EUROPE 13605/1).
Wine. The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, stated that the package of support measures for the wine sector will be presented on Friday 28 March (see EUROPE 13595/6). “As promised, my services have worked quickly to put in place measures that will bring relief to the sector. They will also enable wine producers to manage their production more efficiently and flexibly”, he told the press. The Commissioner recalled that the wine sector is very important for the EU’s rural economy and landscapes, and that the EU is a world leader in the field of wine.
With regard to the current geopolitical tensions between the EU and the US administration (rising customs duties), Mr Hansen said that he would prefer for the parties to negotiate solutions, because, in his view, it is in no-one’s interest to have high customs duties that penalise producers and consumers.
Biogas. Christophe Hansen made the following announcement, enabling farmers who have received CAP aid to be able to resell the biogas produced on their farms. His services have ensured that the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and the Climate, Energy and Environmental Aid Guidelines (CEEAG) can be applied in this case. “This means that after receiving CAP investment aid, when energy production is not used on the farm, it can be sold on the market without restrictions”, explained the Commissioner. This important clarification will enable farmers to derive greater benefit from their energy production, and responds to a request made by several countries in December 2024 concerning bottlenecks in biogas production at farm level.
Simplification. At the end of April or beginning of May, Mr Hansen will present his first package for simplifying the CAP rules. “This is not just a simplification package for our national administrations. This must be really felt on the farms themselves”, he said.
Towards the end of 2025, the Commission will also present a broader package of simplification measures covering not only agricultural policy, but also other areas such as the environment, health and sanitary requirements, “which represent a considerable burden”, according to Mr Hansen.
Defence and agriculture. The Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Luis Planas, insisted that the necessary increase in EU defence spending should not come at the expense of CAP funding. In his view, the vision “only makes sense” if it is accompanied by a proposal on a post-2027 CAP “with its own personality and a sound financial envelope”. “It’s not a question of choosing between guns or butter, but of strengthening Europe’s defence and security, but also food security, which is not guaranteed”, he stressed.
“We need a strong CAP, with adequate resources and a specific budget”, stressed the Italian delegation.
For Annie Genevard, the French minister, the future CAP must retain a “dedicated budget with resources commensurate with the challenges”. The CAP must be excluded from any single plan, France insisted.
Farmers’ income. Mr Planas, supported by other countries, also called on the Commission to present “as soon as possible” its proposals on banning the sale of agricultural products at a price below the cost of production. (Orignal version in French by Lionel Changeur)