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EU agriculture ministers discussed the national recommendations for the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposed by the European Commission, focusing on their scope, timing and strategic role in shaping future interventions under the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
The debate centred on how these recommendations will guide the preparation of National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) and how they will interact with other policy areas. Ministers examined the timeline for their adoption and the level of involvement of member states in the drafting process.
Several delegations stressed the importance of issuing the recommendations in a timely manner to allow adequate national planning. Many called for appropriate transitional arrangements to ensure continuity between programming periods. Ministers also underlined that the recommendations must be evidence-based, aligned with national priorities and local specificities, and built upon the existing CAP Strategic Plans.
The recommendations are intended to serve as a strategic tool to identify and address key agricultural challenges, including farm income stability, competitiveness, generational renewal, climate performance, resilience to risks and the promotion of knowledge and innovation. While positioned as non-legally binding instruments, they are expected to provide policy guidance within a coherent EU framework, allowing member states sufficient flexibility to adapt interventions to their national and regional circumstances.
The discussion took place in the broader context of defining the future direction of the CAP. Ministers agreed that coherence with NRPPs and other Union policies will be essential to enhance both the effectiveness and ambition of the future CAP.
The meeting also focused on strengthening food security as a key pillar of the EU’s strategic autonomy. Ministers emphasised the need to support the agricultural sector, ensure fair protection for farmers across the food supply chain and reinforce the EU’s global leadership in promoting food security.
February 23, 2026/ European Council/ European Union.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu
