This Thursday and Friday, Copa and Cogeca held their Praesidium meetings, bringing together over one hundred representatives of the European farming community. Against a backdrop of mounting uncertainty linked to global trade tensions and initial political developments within the incoming Commission, one issue emerged as the central concern for the entire sector. Namely the potential reallocation of EU funding into a single fund — a move that would effectively eliminate the EAGF and EAFRD, the two financial pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Uncertainty dominated the two days of discussions among Copa and Cogeca members. Whether driven by geopolitical instability affecting international trade, economic challenges, or growing regulatory burdens in the internal market, the sector is facing a perfect storm. In this climate, the prospect of merging EU agricultural funding into a single fund adds yet another layer of unpredictability, one which casts a long shadow over the beginning of the new Commission’s mandate.
Dismantling the CAP’s two-pillar structure — the EAGF (European Agricultural Guarantee Fund) and the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) — in favour of a national programming model for each Member State would erode the shared foundation of EU agricultural policy. This would not only further fragment the Single Market but also jeopardise the Union’s food production capacity, food security, as well as the vitality of its rural areas.
Summarising the mood of the farming representatives at the close of the meeting, Copa President Massimiliano Giansanti stated:
“The agricultural ambition of the new Commission must be judged by its actions. And the first of these, if we are to remain consistent with the political commitments made, must be to safeguard the CAP budget—adjusted to reflect inflation. The coherence of the agricultural vision, and the ability to deliver real impact for farmers in the field, hinges on this step. In the face of today’s uncertainties, there is no security without food security. We have formally requested a meeting with President Ursula von der Leyen, which we hope will take place swiftly.”
Continuing the message, Cogeca President Lennart Nilsson stressed:
“Our agri-cooperatives need stability, predictability, trust, and legal certainty. The multiple transitions required of European agriculture can—and will—only be achieved if they are properly financed. Investing in agriculture is not merely financial support; it is a strategic investment in Europe’s cornerstone sector, one that underpins the entire EU security architecture.”
The question of the EU budget is not just a financial issue—it is the central political question at the start of this new mandate. This is why the matter is of the highest concern for the farming community, and why mobilisation will be organised in the coming weeks.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
