EU member states agree on reform of agricultural policy

Résumé détaillé

European Union agriculture ministers reached agreement on Monday on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, its implementation will depend on negotiations over the EU budget.

In Luxembourg, the ministers unanimously adopted a position on reforming the CAP after 2027. The Union's new multiannual budget will run from 2028 to 2034. Based on that position, the member states will now negotiate with the European Parliament. Before the reform takes effect, EU countries and MEPs must approve it.

"The agreement reached today is an important step towards ensuring that the CAP continues to deliver for farmers, supports rural communities and safeguards food security for all Europeans," Irish Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said.

The reform aims to focus support on active farmers, young people starting out in the sector, and small agricultural businesses, using mechanisms that involve caps and gradually reducing payments. Debate centred mainly on the definition of "active" farmers. Some countries wanted retired farmers to remain eligible for certain types of support. The agreement allows some flexibility in how support is allocated.

The agreement is still incomplete, as the reform's financial framework depends on negotiations over the EU budget. EU leaders must finalise it by year-end. At this stage, around 300 billion euros have been earmarked for the CAP, compared with 387 billion euros in the current multiannual budget.

Belga News Agency delivers dependable, rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media. The information covers all sectors, from politics, economics and finance to social affairs, sports and culture, not to mention entertainment and lifestyle. Every day, our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories, dozens of online information items, plus audio and video bulletins, all in both national languages. Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language, to inform foreign media, eurocrats, diplomats and other expats about all Belgian news relevant to them.

Début de l'article, extrait de Belga. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.