Madrid – On Thursday, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Luis Planas stated that Spain has “room for maneuver” to prioritize its interests in the negotiations for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028-2034, while acknowledging that the process will be “difficult.”
The minister addressed the Agriculture Commission of Congress, discussing various issues within his department, including the European Commission’s proposal to cut the CAP budget by over 20% in the coming years to allocate funds to other areas such as defense.
In his opening remarks, Planas highlighted that the negotiation surrounding the CAP will be “complicated and difficult,” yet expressed confidence that Spain has “cards to play” to achieve a satisfactory outcome.
While voicing his concerns regarding the proposed reduction of the agricultural budget, Planas recognized that the financial outlook for Europe is “particularly complicated” due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, climate change impacts, and emerging global food security challenges.
Brussels Faces Challenges
He remarked, “The combination is diabolical, and thus it must be recognized that the European Commission has faced a very challenging task in establishing these financial perspectives.”
Planas explained that the current EU budget is 1.13% of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product, with the European Commission proposing to increase it to 1.26%. However, during the reference period, 0.12 percentage points will need to be repaid on the European funds disbursed to member states during the pandemic, which would leave the future budget largely unchanged.
Proposal Remains Firm
Regarding the European Commission’s proposal, Planas stated that the likelihood of the initial proposal being withdrawn “will never occur,” as some member states support limiting the budget for specific areas, though he did not disclose which ones.
The minister underscored the necessity for autonomous communities, the Government, and agricultural organizations to unite in defending Spain’s interests.
In this context, Planas indicated that the Government will explore reforming the current proposal, believing there is “significant room for maneuver” to achieve Spain’s major objectives in agriculture, livestock, rural areas, and fishing.
“We cannot afford the dismantling of European policies such as the CAP or the common fisheries policy,” the minister asserted, emphasizing that these policies have been a “success” since the EU’s inception, contributing to global food security and enhancing the living standards and profitability of farmers and ranchers.
Finally, the minister highlighted a proposal from the European Commission regarding generational renewal, deeming it “very interesting” as it addresses the “number one” challenge in the agri-food sector. Planas advocated for ensuring that young people and women are present and active in agriculture and the wider rural community for its future viability. (October 30)
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