Sittings · Document

DRAFT OPINION (2025/0000(BUD)) 2025-06-18

On general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 – all sections

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Dario Nardella

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This draft opinion from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development addresses the 2026 EU budget, focusing on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It welcomes proposed funding levels but raises concerns about the EAGF margin and calls for support for farmers, young entrants, and rural development.

Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the Committee on Budgets to incorporate its views into the motion for a resolution, welcoming certain allocations but urging changes on margins, crisis reserve, young farmers, and promotion funding.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the Commission's proposal of EUR 56.97 billion in commitment appropriations and EUR 53.13 billion in payment appropriations under Heading 3, with EUR 54.79 billion for agriculture and maritime policy.
  2. Recalls that CAP objectives under Article 39 TFEU must guide spending, including fair farmer incomes, market stability, and food supply, and cannot be subordinated to external pressures.
  3. Notes concern that the EAGF margin has fallen to EUR 76 million, limiting flexibility to respond to shocks like climate events or market volatility.
  4. Urges the Commission to ensure the 2026 budget provides flexibility to address geopolitical risks from Russia's war in Ukraine, including input costs and supply chain disruptions.
  5. Calls for trade agreements to respect reciprocity and avoid undermining EU producers through imports not meeting equivalent standards.
  6. Welcomes the increase in the agricultural crisis reserve from EUR 280 million to EUR 450 million and urges better accessibility and faster activation.
  7. Regrets the lack of a visible increase in EAFRD allocations for young farmers and urges prioritising start-up support and access to land and finance.
  8. Expresses concern over the removal of funding for promotion programmes and calls for reinstatement to protect EU agri-food competitiveness.
  9. Welcomes increased sectoral allocations for fruit and vegetables and stresses support for vulnerable sectors like olive oil, apiculture, and wine.
  10. Calls for stable funding for EU school schemes for fruit, vegetables, and milk to promote healthy diets.
  11. Supports EUR 13.3 billion for EAFRD and stresses maintaining support for smart villages, rural infrastructure, and innovation.
  12. Emphasises investing in water management, irrigation modernisation, soil resilience, digitalisation, and precision farming, and simplifying access to digital funding for small farms.

Who is affected

  • EU farmers, particularly young farmers and new entrants, who would benefit from strengthened start-up support and access to land and finance.
  • EU agri-food producers, whose promotion programmes funding has been removed, affecting their competitiveness and reputation.
  • Sectors like fruit and vegetables, olive oil, apiculture, and wine, which receive sectoral support.
  • School children participating in EU school schemes for fruit, vegetables, and milk.
  • Small and medium-sized farms, which would benefit from simplified access to EU digital funding.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 56.97 billion in commitment appropriations and EUR 53.13 billion in payment appropriations under Heading 3.
  • EUR 54.79 billion of commitment appropriations for agriculture and maritime policy, an increase of 0.8% compared to 2025.
  • EAGF margin decreased to EUR 76 million.
  • Agricultural crisis reserve increased from EUR 280 million to EUR 450 million.
  • EUR 13.3 billion allocated to EAFRD.

Legal basis: Article 39 TFEU

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