Changes after 2027 or the Black Wednesday of European agriculture

The symbolic protest march of European farmers' organisations in Brussels on 16 July 2025 marked a new milestone in the fight for the future of agriculture in Europe. The protest came in response to the European Commission's proposed reform of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which farmers say represents a fundamental dismantling of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The European Commission's proposal to integrate the CAP into a so-called "single fund" is being presented as an administrative simplification measure. However, the farming community sees it differently – as a step towards the destruction of the Common Agricultural Policy and budget cuts that will hit family farms, which form the backbone of European agriculture, particularly hard.

Copa-Cogeca: „This – political incoherence“

Copa-Cogeca, the organisation of European farmers and agricultural cooperatives, has been warning for months about the negative consequences of integrating the CAP into the Common Fund. The organisation considers that this course of action runs counter to previous promises on sustainability, competitiveness and the strengthening of the single market. Current circumstances, including the climate crisis, geopolitical instability and increasingly stringent environmental requirements, call for more, not less, stability and financial security for agriculture.

„At a time when the European Commission has declared its openness to dialogue and the involvement of farming communities, the proposal presented on 16 July points in the exact opposite direction. The positions of the European Parliament and the Council have been ignored, decisions have been taken behind closed doors and the result is a cynical and unilateral plan that no farmers' organisation can endorse, says Copa-Cogeca.

Budget cuts – a real threat to farm stability

According to the Commission's proposed new MFF, agriculture is set to receive €300 billion in 2028–2034, compared to €386.6 billion in the previous budget for 2021–2027. Taking inflation into account, this represents a 20–30% real reduction in funding

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While the Commission insists that support for agriculture remains, the farming community fears that cutting funding and integrating it into the general fund will mean a loss of flexibility, less predictability and an increased administrative burden, especially for small and family farms in the regions.

Political signal – ignoring, not prioritising

Copa-Cogeca says the proposed model sends a clear signal: agriculture is no longer a priority. This is particularly poignant given the respect paid to farmers during the pandemic and their role in ensuring Europe's food security.

„After all the applause during the pandemic, farmers are now being sidelined – ignored, while they remain responsible for ensuring that Europe's population has safe, quality and sustainable food,– comments the organisation.

The future of agriculture – in the hands of decisions

At a time when the Commission is launching a broad consultation on the new multiannual financial framework, Copa-Cogeca calls for more than declarations. The organisation calls on the European Parliament, in particular the Committee on Agriculture, and the Council of Ministers to reject the current proposal and to insist that the CAP remains an autonomous, clear and responsible policy instrument.

More than 6 000 organisations across Europe have already signed a petition to defend the future of the CAP. Their message is clear: Europe's agricultural policy must be strengthened, not weakened.