According to a document reviewed by ANP, the member states will bear greater responsibility for the allocation of agricultural budgets.
This pertains to the new EU agricultural policy set for 2028-2034. There were speculations that the Commission intended to combine the agricultural budget with regional funds for enhanced efficiency, sparking protests from the European Parliament, member states, and the agricultural sector.
The Commission proposes a specific ‘envelope’ for each EU country, indicating the funds that member states can independently allocate for agriculture. They believe that member states can more effectively manage farming resources, as they are aware of their sectors’ needs.
Nonetheless, the Commission will still establish conditions on the use of the agricultural budget. Funds must be directed towards making the sector appealing to youth, assisting farmers committed to nature conservation and climate action, and safeguarding farmers against “unfair trading practices,” as mentioned in the document.
Moreover, the Commission encourages farming enterprises to diversify risks by, for instance, cultivating various crops or integrating crop and livestock farming.
There is also significant concern regarding the aging demographic within the farming community. The document notes, “Only a fraction of farmers is younger than 40 years.” To tackle this, young farmers should have easier access to increased subsidies, along with improved working conditions. This initiative aims to secure the future of the EU’s food supply.
Previously, agricultural policy comprised a third of the EU budget. The European Commission is set to unveil its proposal for the new multiannual budget on Wednesday, followed by negotiations first with member states and then with the European Parliament, a process expected to span one and a half to two years.
(July 15, 2025)
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