Common Agricultural Policy after 2027: EU leaders call for strengthening the regional dimension

In a high-level dialogue held on 3 March, organised by the Chair of the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Natural Resources (NAT), Piotr Całbeck i (PL/EPP), local, regional, national and European leaders discussed the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and rural development after 2027. 

The event addressed the European Commission’s July 2025 proposal to integrate the common agricultural policy (CAP) into national and regional partnership plans under the EU budget for the period 2028-2034. Participants examined how to avoid the risks of renationalisation of the CAP and distortion of competition between Member States and regions, despite the increased flexibility of Member States in drawing up national recovery and resilience plans and the shift from prescriptive rules to broader objectives.

Ahead of the negotiations between the co-legislators, participants expressed concern about the post-2027 CAP proposal, which could weaken its regional dimension, reduce the predictability of funding and limit the ability of local and regional authorities to tailor measures to territorial needs. They called for greater involvement of local and regional authorities, clearer governance and safeguards to ensure compliance with environmental and social objectives, fair incomes for farmers through stricter market regulation, and targeted support for those most in need. In particular, they insist on the need to refine the definition of active farmers and to prioritise redistributive payments for the first hectares, support for young farmers and small family farms, and aid for farms located in areas with natural constraints.

Participants also highlighted the strategic role of rural areas in achieving the EU’s economic, social and environmental objectives. Rural areas continue to face structural challenges, such as depopulation, unequal access to services, limited economic opportunities and low visibility in policy design. To ensure continuity of support under the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF), it is essential that rural development measures are adequately funded, recognised as a fundamental EU objective rather than being included in the CAP, and implemented through community-led local approaches.

Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP), councillor for the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and rapporteur for the opinion on the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2028-2034: “The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is often the subject of debate, but today we all agree that it is more essential than ever for Europe’s stability, security and long-term future. Without coordinated support and robust regulation of benchmarks, many farms, especially small and medium-sized ones, would disappear, weakening Europe’s ability to feed itself.”

Jacek Krajewski,Polish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development: “The scale of the challenges facing agriculture and rural areas in recent times is greater than ever. We therefore need a robust and well-planned CAP with an adequate budget. The specific nature of the CAP requires stable funding not only for agriculture-related objectives, but also for rural development, as the current two-pillar structure has proven to be very effective.”

Alessio Mammi (IT/PES), Regional Councillor for Emilia-Romagna, member of the AgriRegions Coalition and rapporteur for an opinion on the common market organisation (CMO): “The proposed revision of the CMO certainly has positive aspects; however, I also see important critical issues that could weaken a policy that is fundamental to European food security and producer groups. I am referring in particular to the introduction of a minimum national co-financing requirement of 30% for aid that has hitherto been financed entirely by the EU. In addition to creating serious transition problems for multi-annual operational programmes that have already been approved, this co-financing risks creating disparities in support between Member States and, consequently, differences in competitiveness between producers or organisations in the same sector, undermining the level playing field in the single market.

Radim Sršeň (CZ/EPP), mayor of the municipality of Dolní Studénky and rapporteur for an opinion on the future of rural development 2028: “The future of rural development is at a crossroads. Rural areas can become either a museum or a vibrant and attractive place to live for all generations. We must do everything we can to follow the second path. Rural areas face many challenges, but they also have great potential, and a holistic, locally-based, integrated, multi-fund and multi-policy approach, with sufficient resources, is the only recipe for their future: a future that allows us to fully exploit their strategic potential and reverse the trend of demographic decline and discontent.”

More information: European Committee of the Regions.