EU prepares new agrarian reform: MEPs demand more time

The European Commission is preparing a large-scale reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the EU’s multiannual budget after 2027, but the rush to implement it has already caused a wave of criticism from MEPs.

This is reported by Farmer.pl.

The European Commission plans to publish the updated Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) on July 17, which will also integrate the proposal for a new CAP. The basis of the reform is the unification of the current agricultural and regional funds into a single financing mechanism, access to which will depend on the fulfillment of clearly defined conditions by the member states. At the same time, this concept raises serious concerns among MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture (AGRI), who believe that the proposed reform could weaken the position of farmers and complicate the already overloaded legislative process in the EU.

MEPs insist: the parliament needs more time to analyze the changes and their impact on the agricultural sector. Comparing the current approach with previous CAP reforms, MEPs point out that similar processes were previously carried out gradually and involved deeper consultations. This allowed for better consideration of the interests of farming communities. And the current proposed timeframes do not allow the Parliament to fully influence the formation of agricultural policy after 2027.

A key element of the European Commission proposal is the creation of a single financial mechanism for agriculture and regional development. However, MEPs warn that such an approach could dilute the objectives of the CAP and weaken farmers’ positions in European policy. Spanish MEP Carmen Crespo, who is preparing a report on the future of the CAP, has already called for maintaining the current bipolar structure – direct payments and support for the development of rural areas. At the same time, she advocates simplifying bureaucracy and creating new incentives for farmers.

The vote in the AGRI committee on Carmen Crespo’s report is scheduled for July 15 – just two days before the publication of the European Commission’s final proposal.

Tags: EU, agricultural sector