The European Union's Commissioner for Agriculture, Christoph Hansen, announced a new approach aimed at strengthening the protection of European farmers in the face of growing challenges. Speaking ahead of an informal meeting with his counterparts in Nicosia, Hansen stressed that EU member states are required to present clear national strategies to safeguard their agricultural sectors against complex risks such as climate change, global market volatility, and geopolitical developments that directly impact food security and the stability of farmers' incomes.
Historical background: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
This call comes in the context of ongoing efforts to modernize the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), one of the EU's oldest and most important policies. Established in 1962, the CAP aimed to ensure a stable food supply for Europe's population after World War II and to support farmers in maintaining a decent standard of living. Over the decades, the policy has evolved from a price support system to providing direct payments to farmers, with an increasing focus in recent years on environmental sustainability and rural development, in line with the goals of the European Green Deal.
The importance of reform and its expected impact
These reforms are of paramount importance in light of the successive crises. Domestically, farmers are suffering from extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, in addition to rising production costs like fertilizers and energy. Regionally and internationally, the war in Ukraine has exposed the fragility of food supply chains and led to significant disruptions in grain markets, sparking widespread protests from farmers in countries like Poland and Romania due to competition from duty-free Ukrainian imports. The new reform aims to give member states greater flexibility to develop plans tailored to their specific circumstances, while maintaining a strong single market.
Radical restructuring by 2028
The European Commission is aiming for a comprehensive restructuring of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) starting in 2028. The proposed plan includes consolidating the various existing support funds into a single, large fund for regional support and farmer assistance. Under this plan, each member state will submit a national reform and investment plan for the period 2028-2034, outlining how it intends to use its allocated EU funds to support its farmers and achieve common objectives.
Future concerns and challenges
While the idea of granting member states greater autonomy in designing support schemes has been generally welcomed, these proposals have raised serious concerns. Some fear that such flexibility could exacerbate inequalities between farmers in different countries and create unfair competition within the European single market. There are also concerns that some countries might lower environmental standards to make their farmers more competitive, which would contradict the EU's environmental objectives. Negotiations between member states and the European Parliament on the EU budget for the next seven years are expected to be lengthy and complex, as all parties strive to reach an agreement that balances support for farmers, environmental protection, and market stability by the end of this year.
