Seventeen EU leaders press Irish presidency to protect farm funding in next budget

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Published: 2026-10-03T13:36:08.318Z • Permanent link

Seventeen EU leaders have issued a joint statement to Giorgia Meloni, the President of the European Commission, and Nicușor Dan, the President of the European Council, pressing them to protect farm funding in the next EU budget. The statement, signed by leaders from across the continent, also calls for the preservation of cohesion funding, the scrapping of national rebates, and a slower repayment of NextGenerationEU loans. The move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over the EU's budget priorities, with many farmers and rural communities relying on these funds to support their livelihoods. The EU's agricultural sector is worth over €400 billion annually, and any changes to farm funding could have far-reaching consequences for the sector.

The joint statement was welcomed by farmers' unions and other rural organizations, who have been warning about the potential impact of budget cuts on the sector. "This is a major victory for farmers and rural communities across Europe," said a spokesperson for the European Farmers' Union. "We are committed to working with the Commission and Council to ensure that farm funding is protected and that the sector continues to receive the support it needs." The statement is also seen as a significant challenge to the Commission's plans to reduce the EU's agricultural spending, which has been a contentious issue in recent years.

The 17 leaders who signed the statement represent a broad range of EU countries, including major agricultural producers such as France, Germany, and Poland. The move is also seen as a significant test of the Commission's leadership under Giorgia Meloni, who has faced criticism from farmers and rural communities over her plans to reform the EU's agricultural policy. The statement is likely to be closely watched by policymakers and farmers' unions in the coming weeks and months, as the EU's budget negotiations enter their final stages.

The impact of the EU's budget on the agricultural sector could be felt far beyond the borders of the European Union. Companies that supply inputs to farmers, such as fertilizers and pesticides, could see their sales decline if farm funding is reduced. Research communities that study agricultural productivity and sustainability could also be impacted, as they rely on EU funding to support their research and development activities. The EU's agricultural sector is also a major driver of trade, with the EU exporting billions of euros' worth of agricultural products each year. Any changes to farm funding could have significant implications for the EU's trade relationships with other countries.

The agricultural sector is also closely tied to the broader EU economy, with farmers and rural communities playing a critical role in supporting local food systems and promoting sustainable agriculture practices. The EU's agricultural policy has a significant impact on the environment, with many farmers relying on EU funding to support the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices. Any changes to farm funding could have significant implications for the EU's environmental policy and the sector's contribution to achieving the EU's climate and environmental goals.

The debate over the EU's agricultural policy is part of a broader pattern of competing approaches to agricultural policy in Europe. The EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the largest agricultural policies in the world, with a budget of over €50 billion annually. However, the CAP has faced criticism from farmers and rural communities, who argue that it is too bureaucratic and inefficient, and that it does not provide sufficient support for small-scale farmers and rural communities. The EU's agricultural policy is also part of a broader debate over the EU's environmental policy, with many farmers and rural communities arguing that the EU's environmental goals are incompatible with the EU's agricultural policy.