EU agriculture ministers meet in Budapest to discuss the farmer-centredness of the Common Agricultural Policy

European farmers have had to face many challenges in the recent past, such as extreme weather events caused by climate change, high input costs, the negative effects of war, or market disruptions caused by increasing imports from third countries. At the same time, they have to meet increasingly stringent production standards and cope with increased administrative burdens.

Farmers need European-level responses to these challenges. 

The Hungarian presidency aims to launch a debate in the Council on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy. Meanwhile, the Presidency will also outline the expectations of agriculture ministers in conclusions. This will guide the new Commission, expectedly established in the autumn, as it prepares legislative proposals for the post-2027 CAP.

The ministerial exchange of views focused on three issues:

• First, there was a debate on simplifying agricultural support payments and the main types of support.
• Second, we looked at how to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to green objectives without jeopardising farmers’ competitiveness.
• Lastly, the system of crisis management instruments had to be reviewed to allow for support to farmers in increasingly frequent crisis situations

Source: Hungarian Presidency. Council of European Union