EU Farm Budget Cuts Spark Protests Across Europe

Major CAP Overhaul in EU Budget Proposal

The European Commission's proposed €2 trillion budget for 2028-2034 has triggered widespread farmer protests across Europe. The plan merges agricultural subsidies with cohesion funds into National and Regional Partnership Plans, reducing CAP funding from €387 billion to €300 billion.

Structural Changes

The proposal dismantles CAP's two-pillar system that separated direct payments (Pillar I) from rural development funds (Pillar II). Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen claims this will better target farmer support, while Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin confirmed the €300 billion allocation.

Farmer Concerns

Farmers' organizations cite multiple concerns:

• Loss of CAP's common EU framework creating unequal competition
• Reduced funding for environmental measures despite strict regulations
• Threats to food security through increased imports
• Insufficient inflation adjustment amid rising production costs

Protests and Negotiations

Farmers from Spain to Czechia have staged demonstrations, with FNSEA leader Arnaud Rousseau calling the proposal "a provocation." Negotiations between EU member states and Parliament will continue through 2027, determining CAP's future structure.