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The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) has adopted a report outlining its priorities for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027. Key demands include a strengthened, standalone CAP budget, reduced bureaucracy for farmers, stronger generational renewal measures, and broader access to digital farming tools.
Approved by 29 votes in favour, 9 against, and 8 abstentions, the report emphasizes that in today’s geopolitical climate, EU farming is essential not only for food security but also for the EU’s broader security and defence strategy. MEPs insist that the CAP budget must remain independent and should not be merged with other funding streams or used for non-agricultural purposes.
Direct income support should be reinforced for all active, professional farmers, based on area. To ensure effective rural development, the CAP’s second pillar must remain distinct from cohesion policies. Voluntary coupled support payments for struggling sectors should be maintained or increased.
Reducing the administrative burden on farmers is a core principle. MEPs support a system based on incentives to meet environmental and social goals. Eco-schemes should remain voluntary and be accompanied by fair remuneration. CAP compliance checks should rely on satellite imagery and farmer self-declaration through a centralised electronic system, reducing the stress of physical inspections.
On generational renewal, the Committee highlights that 58% of EU farmers are over 55, while only 6% are under 35. It proposes more CAP funding, along with tax and credit incentives, to eliminate entry barriers for young farmers.
Finally, MEPs call for harmonised EU-wide labelling of agri-food products. Since over 70% of consumers base purchasing decisions on product packaging, labels should clearly reflect the origin, quality, and production standards, preventing misleading information.
8 July 2025/European Parliament/European Union.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu
