Not even Ursula von der Leyen’s personal olive branch was enough to calm those who see the upcoming EU multiannual budget as a threat to the Common Agricultural Policy.
In Brussels a group of at least seven EU countries, led by Italy, reiterated their opposition to the idea of merging agricultural and cohesion funds into a single “national pot” in the future EU budget.
Instead, they called for “a profound revision” of the financial framework for the next seven years (2028-2034).
“We obtained the substantial support of a broad majority of colleagues, who appreciated our vision and our proposal,” said Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, who, together with his counterparts from Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia, promoted an informal discussion on the topic at the EU Agrifish Council.
Highlighting the “concrete risk” of a “renationalisation of the CAP,” the seven nations expressed concerns about “further complications” that could arise from the new budget structure.
From Paris to Berlin, Madrid and Vienna, several delegations spoke during the discussion, stressing their intention to maintain the “common” character of the European agricultural policy.
“We will guard against any risk of renationalisation of the CAP,” assured France’s Annie Genevard.
The tense discussion comes just one week after von der Leyen’s attempt to patch things up with the European Parliament and member states by introducing limited changes to the budget proposal.
These include the idea of a “rural target” — a minimum share of 10% of funds to be allocated to rural areas — as well as a strengthening the legal independence of the future CAP from other programmes.
These targeted yet limited adjustments were met with a cool reception from many capitals.
“They are only a small step and completely insufficient compared to our demands,” Lollobrigida said, calling for more substantial interventions.
With discussions only just beginning, the European Commission now awaits the input of heads of state and government, who will hold a first political discussion on the budget at the EU Summit on 18 December, based on a compromise framework without figures prepared by the Danish presidency (known as the “negobox”).

“We have listened to the discussions and concerns and clarified the way forward. We now have a solid basis to continue working,” assured Commissioner Christophe Hansen.
The meeting with his European counterparts also gave Lollobrigida the opportunity to meet with Ireland’s Martin Heydon, effectively sealing Dublin’s reversal on wine and alcohol health warning labels — “abandoning unilateral positions that Italy had contested.” The Italian minister said this was “another major victory in defence of our wine sector and production system.” #IMCAP Co-funded by the European Union. However, the views expressed belong solely to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible.