The Presidents of Copa and Cogeca today announced in Brussels the launch of a petition titled nosecuritywithoutcap.eu. The goal is to raise awareness and mobilising the entire European farming community against the idea of a ’single fund’ in which the CAP could be diluted after 2027. According to Copa and Cogeca, the approach being pursued by the European Commission contradicts both history and its own messages about the strategic importance of agriculture. European security begins with food security.
During a ‘flash action’ carried out simultaneously in over 20 Member States last May, farming unions and representatives from the cooperative sector had already offered a warning. The future EU budget and CAP are critical and must continue to support farmers’ competitiveness in an increasingly tense global market. Without clarity or reassurance about the Commission’s direction, further mobilisation is likely.
For Massimiliano Giansanti, President of Copa, the stakes are clear: ‘On one hand, the Commission tells us that agriculture is a priority. But what do the facts say? The Commission is preparing a budget for 2028–2034 where agricultural funding will be reduced, where the CAP could lose its ‘Common’ nature, and where we would again be discussing policies without knowing the available resources. All of this will be presented in the middle of summer, in July, right in the harvest season! That’s simply not acceptable, and that’s why we are calling for mobilisation through this petition.’
On the petition website, Copa and Cogeca outline four key demands addressed to the European Commission:
- A dedicated and increased budget for the CAP is the only way to support farmers and our food security: The CAP must retain its integrity with a two-pillar structure and a clear, dedicated, and inflation-adjusted budget line in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Dissolving it into a general fund risk putting CAP funding in competition with other policy priorities leading de fact to a strong reduction. It will increase uncertainty and undermine the survival of Europe’s farmers, the EU’s food security and agricultural future.
- Preserve the ‘C’ in CAP: Reject the renationalisation of agricultural policy: The ‘C’ of the Common Agriculture Policy must be preserved! Further renationalisation would fragment the single market, deepen inequalities between Member States, and destabilise rural communities and farmers’ incomes.
- CAP works on two legs: Maintain the Two-Pillar CAP Architecture: The CAP’s dual structure, combining direct support and rural development funding (EAGF and EAFRD), must be upheld. Integrating the CAP with other policies would damage long-term agricultural investments in our rural areas, as well as the uptake of innovation, generation renewal and environmental sustainability.
- No reform without clarity on the resources: The EU should stop putting the cart before the horse: Any reform of the CAP must come with adequate financial resources, genuine and timely consultation with farmers and agri-cooperatives. Rushed proposals without impact assessment risk lasting damage to the EU’s farming model and community engagement.
For Lennart Nilsson, President of Cogeca, the issue is fundamental: ‘The EU budget is, above all, a question of political will. The European Parliament has already sent a clear message to the Commission: the single fund proposal is simply not acceptable, especially when it comes to agriculture. In a time of global uncertainty, climate challenges, economic shifts, and generational renewal, we know that agriculture plays a key stabilising role — and we cannot jeopardise its future with budgetary shortcuts.’
Collection of signatures opened on Thursday, 19 June, and will continue throughout the summer. Copa and Cogeca call on all organisations, from local to European level, to mobilise around these four strong demands. Copa and Cogeca with their members will oversee the collection and verification of signatures. Progress updates will be shared on the organisations’ social media channels.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
