{"id":172308,"date":"2026-10-29T09:45:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T08:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=172308"},"modified":"2026-10-29T09:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T08:48:08","slug":"marco-financiero-plurianual-2028-2034-el-consejo-consolida-una-posicion-para-la-negociacion-de-una-pac-fuerte-y-de-futuro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/marco-financiero-plurianual-2028-2034-el-consejo-consolida-una-posicion-para-la-negociacion-de-una-pac-fuerte-y-de-futuro\/","title":{"rendered":"Multiannual Financial Framework 2028\u20132034: the Council finalises its position for negotiations on a strong, forward-looking CAP"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Council has adopted its partial negotiating position<\/strong> on the Regulation establishing the post-2027 framework for the Common Agricultural Policy <\/strong>(CAP). The draft CAP Regulation forms part of the negotiations on the EU\u2019s next long-term budget, the multiannual financial framework (MFF).<\/p>\n

The future CAP aims to provide farmers with the support they need to maintain food production, strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the EU\u2019s agricultural sector, and respond to future challenges.<\/p>\n

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With a simpler and more streamlined framework, it aims to make support more targeted and effective, whilst offering Member States the flexibility and tools they need to address the specific needs of their farmers. The CAP after 2027 will also continue to contribute to the supply of safe and affordable food, the protection of the environment and the vitality of rural areas.<\/p>\n

The negotiating position is \u2018partial\u2019 because it does not include financial and horizontal issues, which are currently being discussed in the context of the negotiations on the general MFF for the period 2028\u20132034.<\/p>\n

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The agreement reached today marks an important milestone for the Irish Presidency. We have agreed on the Council\u2019s negotiating position on a framework for the Common Agricultural Policy that will provide our farmers with the stability and predictability they need, whilst giving Member States the flexibility required to address the specific needs of farmers within their national and regional contexts. The future CAP must support active farmers, empower the next generation and help farmers withstand risks and crises; it must also maintain the economic viability of agriculture whilst meeting our climate and environmental objectives. The agreement reached today is an important step towards ensuring that the CAP continues to serve farmers, supporting rural communities and safeguarding food security for all Europeans. \u2013 <\/em>Martin Heydon, Ireland\u2019s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine<\/strong><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Key elements:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the proposed framework for the EU\u2019s next long-term budget, existing EU funds, including support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), would be brought together under a new National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP). Under the future National and Regional Partnership Scheme, each Member State would draw up a single comprehensive plan to replace the current separate plans and programmes for cohesion, agriculture, fisheries, migration and security, as well as the Social Climate Fund.<\/p>\n

Within this framework, the CAP would move away from the current two-pillar structure (comprising the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), merging these two funds into a single structure whilst retaining the instruments and interventions characteristic of the CAP.<\/p>\n

Under the new provisions, the funding of measures covered by the CAP would be governed primarily by the Regulation on national and regional partnership plans. Consequently, various provisions relating to the reform of the CAP have already been agreed in the Council\u2019s partial position on this Regulation.<\/p>\n

In order to maintain a robust level of support for farmers during the next programming period, the Commission has proposed setting aside around EUR 300,000 million for CAP income support and crisis measures. Through national and regional partnership plans, further funding would be made available to strengthen income support measures, innovation and rural initiatives. The Commission\u2019s proposal also includes a \u2018unity safety net\u2019 to support farmers in the event of market disruptions. The final amount set aside for support for farmers will be agreed as part of the negotiations on the overall MFF.<\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s position on the post-2027 CAP Regulation maintains the momentum of the Commission\u2019s proposal and aims to strengthen the CAP and adapt it to the new framework, whilst also introducing a number of changes.<\/p>\n

A common framework tailored to national and regional needs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s position seeks to preserve a coherent and common EU framework<\/strong>, whilst offering Member States the necessary flexibility<\/strong> to adapt the way in which they meet the EU\u2019s common objectives to their own national circumstances.<\/p>\n

This involves striking a balance between mandatory requirements and optional measures, with a view to helping to simplify implementation and better tailor the policy to the realities on the ground.<\/p>\n

Better-targeted support for active farmers:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The future CAP aims to make income support fairer and more effective by channelling funding towards farmers who are actively involved in agricultural production.<\/p>\n

To this end, the proposed system of degressive area-based income support<\/strong> would simplify the current payment system whilst allowing support to be better targeted, taking into account the circumstances of each farm. This approach aims to improve the distribution of funding, paying particular attention to active farmers (farmers carrying out a minimum level of agricultural activity), young farmers and small farmers. The Council has introduced, as an option for Member States participating in the degressive area-based income support scheme, a redistributive mechanism similar to the complementary redistributive income support for sustainability under the current CAP programming period.<\/p>\n

The rules on the phasing out and capping of degressive area-based income support would be established at a later stage, as part of the horizontal discussions on the MFF.<\/p>\n

In this context, the Council has also decided that Member States must define the concept of an \u2018active farmer\u2019 \u2013 an important element in ensuring that support reaches the intended beneficiaries \u2013 whilst allowing them the flexibility to adapt the definition itself to their own national circumstances.<\/p>\n

Investing in the next generation of farmers:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Generational renewal is essential for the long-term viability and competitiveness of European agriculture<\/strong>. The future CAP aims to make farming more attractive and accessible to young people, helping them to overcome the financial and structural barriers to entering the sector.<\/p>\n

The Council has agreed that Member States must provide young farmers with increased, degressive area-based income support and offer them assistance in setting up their businesses. This would be complemented by access to knowledge, training and advice, as well as measures to make rural areas more attractive places to live and work.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Member States would be required to establish a strategy for generational renewal<\/strong> and create a welcome package for young farmers<\/strong>, comprising various support measures for the next generation of farmers.<\/p>\n

Responsible farm management and environmental ambition:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s position aims to ensure that the next CAP effectively helps to achieve environmental and climate objectives, whilst maintaining the viability of agricultural businesses.<\/p>\n

In this context, the proposed framework for responsible farm management<\/strong> sets out common requirements for receiving support, alongside incentives for farmers who adopt environmental protection practices. Environmental protection practices include, for example, measures that benefit biodiversity or help to protect watercourses.<\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s position aims to combine a common level of environmental ambition with the flexibility needed to take account of differences in agricultural systems and local conditions.<\/p>\n

Strengthening risk management and support in crisis situations:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Given that extreme weather events, animal and plant diseases, and market volatility are causing increasing uncertainty for farmers, the Council has agreed to strengthen the sector\u2019s capacity to anticipate, manage and recover from such risks.<\/p>\n

To this end, the framework provides for support for risk management tools, such as insurance cover and support for investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and allows Member States to provide crisis payments<\/strong> to farmers affected by natural disasters, adverse climatic events or catastrophes, such as those caused by animal and plant diseases.<\/p>\n

Supporting farmers with farm replacement services:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s position also recognises the importance of working conditions and the work-life balance for farmers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Member States would have the option of establishing farm relief services to help farmers who are ill or who need to take maternity, paternity or childcare leave to arrange for a replacement.<\/p>\n

Strengthening rural areas and communities:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council has also agreed to continue supporting various initiatives aimed at promoting the development of rural areas<\/strong>, particularly those facing specific disadvantages. This will help to achieve the objective of improving the quality of life in rural areas and making them more attractive. This could include support for projects to diversify agricultural activities, for example through agri-tourism, or innovation and digitalisation.<\/p>\n

Next steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The approved negotiating mandate will serve as the basis for the Council Presidency to begin negotiations with the European Parliament on the final form of the Regulation.<\/p>\n

The financial envelope for the period 2028\u20132034, including aspects such as phasing out and capping, will depend on the final agreement on the next MFF as a whole.<\/p>\n

Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Launched in 1962, the CAP is one of the EU\u2019s longest-standing policies; whilst providing support to farmers and rural areas, it helps to ensure a stable supply of affordable food and to protect farmers\u2019 livelihoods. The CAP also helps to tackle climate change, conserve nature and sustain rural communities.<\/p>\n

On 16 July 2025, the Commission adopted two proposals concerning the legislative framework governing the EU\u2019s CAP for the period 2028\u20132034:<\/p>\n