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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2025)0555 – C100165/2025 – 2025/0555(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Competitiveness Fund ('ECF’), including the specific programme for defence research and innovation activities, repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/522, (EU) 2021/694, , (EU) 2021/697, (EU) 2021/783, and amending Regulations (EU) 2021/696, (EU) 2023/588, (EU)

AGRI-PA-782312

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Carlo Fidanza

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal for a regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund. It wants food security and food sovereignty recognised as strategic Union priorities with dedicated resources. It seeks minimum funding of EUR 5 billion for water resilience in agriculture, EUR 10 billion for agricultural digitalisation and EUR 20 billion for stockpiling of agricultural products and critical inputs. It asks for binding earmarking of a guaranteed share for agriculture, food security and the agri-food value chain, and safeguards so rural and primary sectors are not disadvantaged. It proposes simplified procedures, capacity-building and higher co-financing rates so farmers, cooperatives, farmers' organisations and rural SMEs can access the Fund. It would rename the relevant policy window to include food, and add agriculture, food and bioeconomy to the Fund's objectives and governance.

Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal, asking for food security and food sovereignty as strategic priorities, dedicated minimum funding for water resilience, digitalisation and stockpiling in agriculture, binding earmarking and safeguards for farmers and rural SMEs.

Key points

  1. Food security and food sovereignty should be strategic Union priorities within the Competitiveness Fund, with dedicated and clearly identified resources.
  2. The Fund should finance projects of European interest for the resilience of the agri-food system, especially water resilience, water storage and sustainable water management.
  3. It should structurally support digitalisation of agriculture, precision farming, digital services, decision-support systems and data infrastructures.
  4. Dedicated resources should go to strategic storage capacities for agricultural products and essential raw materials to strengthen food security.
  5. The Fund should integrate food security, food sovereignty and competitiveness coherently, with inclusive governance and dedicated resources for agriculture and the agri-food sector.
  6. A guaranteed share of funding should be allocated to agriculture, food security and the agri-food value chain through binding earmarking.
  7. Minimum amounts should be reserved: EUR 5 billion for water resilience in agriculture, EUR 10 billion for agricultural digitalisation and EUR 20 billion for agricultural stockpiling.
  8. Formal safeguards should ensure visibility, prioritisation and adequate resourcing of rural and primary sectors, and funding for agriculture should remain proportionate to other sectors in 2028–2034.
  9. Farmers, cooperatives, farmers' organisations and rural SMEs should get capacity-building, simplified procedures, lump-sum grants, networking instruments and higher co-financing rates.
  10. Projects under the health, biotech, agriculture, food and bioeconomy window should use a balanced multi-actor approach with equitable participation of farmers and rural actors.
  11. The Fund's objectives should cover agri-food supply chains, strategic agricultural inputs, water and food logistics infrastructure, and skills for agriculture and agrifood.
  12. The policy window should be renamed Health, Biotech, Agriculture, Food and Bioeconomy, and the committee name changed accordingly.

Who is affected

  • Farmers, cooperatives, farmers' organisations and rural SMEs, who would get simplified procedures, capacity-building and higher co-financing rates.
  • The agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, livestock, forestry and rural and coastal sectors, whose competitiveness, resilience and food security role the Fund should support.
  • The agri-food value chain, which should be included in critical value chains, strategic inputs and bio-based solutions.
  • Rural and remote areas, which should benefit from digital connectivity, digitalisation and reduced structural digital divides.
  • The Commission, which should provide support mechanisms, simplified procedures and coherence between Union and national implementation for agriculture and rural areas.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 20 393 000 000 for the specific objectives in Article 3(2), point (b), of which a minimum of EUR 5 billion for water resilience in agriculture.
  • EUR 51 493 000 000 for the specific objectives in Article 3(2), point (c), of which a minimum of EUR 10 billion for digitalisation in the agricultural sector.
  • EUR 125 204 000 000 for the specific objectives in Article 3(2), point (d), of which a minimum of EUR 20 billion for stockpiling strategy in the agricultural sector.
  • Union support may cover up to 100% of eligible costs for actions referred to in Article 44(1), point (c).
  • In the programming period 2028–2034, funding for agriculture and food security under the second pillar should remain proportionate to other policy sectors.