An Ambitious Vision for Agriculture Must Not Ignore the CAP Budget Debate, Says Copa-Cogeca

An ambitious vision for agriculture, one that seeks to reconnect with on-the-ground realities, cannot overlook the ongoing debate surrounding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget, Copa-Cogeca stated in a press release sent to infoFERMA. The statement adds:

The European Commission has unveiled a long-awaited key communication, driven by Ursula von der Leyen, which outlines the EU’s vision for agricultural and food policy. This roadmap represents a pragmatic reset based on sound analysis and well-grounded observations, and it proposes an ambitious catalog of future work directions.

However, it fails to address the elephant in the room: the future CAP budget and the resources needed to finance this package of measures.

In assessing the current situation, the Commission appears to have regained its focus on agricultural policy and is now "speaking a different language". The importance of agriculture—its role and vulnerabilities—in today’s geopolitical context is now fully recognized.

Commissioner Hansen’s approach rightly repositions agriculture as a key strategic asset and a pillar of European sovereignty. Farmers are also acknowledged as entrepreneurs and innovators who play a crucial role in tackling climate challenges, protecting the environment, supporting the bioeconomy, and contributing to society as a whole.

The Commission has also correctly identified the demographic and economic fragility of the sector, once again bringing to light critical issues such as farm income, competitiveness, innovation, cooperation, and generational renewal.

Political will—starting with a focus on simplification—is also part of the picture. We welcome the call for stricter alignment of production standards for imported goods, especially regarding plant protection products and animal welfare, based on stronger and more comprehensive impact assessments that should be published before any major trade decision is made.

The principle of "no bans without viable alternatives" for plant protection products is explicitly stated, as is the need for a renewed approach to the livestock sector.

Despite these positive elements, today’s announcement misses a fundamental part of the equation. In the current context, the ongoing debate around the CAP’s funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) cannot be ignored. Copa-Cogeca has previously warned of the risks posed by merging funds and setting single national budget plans.

Yet, today’s vision makes no mention of the CAP budget, and references to the second pillar and its financing are simply absent from the final version of the communication. The complementarity between the EAGF, which provides support, and the EAFRD, which enables multiannual measures and investments, is vital for the sector and must be preserved.

Let’s be clear: ambitions and proposals will mean little without a robust CAP—one that supports active farmers of all sizes and is backed by an increased budget in the post-2027 MFF. This budget must include automatic adjustments for inflation and reflect the growing responsibilities placed on agriculture. Without this, Europe’s farming communities will face significant challenges, and the vision for the sector’s future risks becoming an empty promise.

What is needed now is more than a change in rhetoric. Trust must be rebuilt through concrete actions and coherence across all these proposals, including those beyond the CAP framework. The vision is a step forward, but the key “drivers” needed to bring it to life remain undefined.