The funds already reserved for the Common Agricultural Policy will be added to the 6.3 billion euros available to deal with market disturbances
Farmers in the European Union (EU) will have at their disposal, in the next multiannual financial framework 2028-2034, a reserved amount of 293.7 billion euros, assured this Tuesday the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In a letter sent to Cypriot Prime Minister Nikos Christodoulides, who holds the biannual presidency of the EU Council, and the President of the European Parliament, co-legislators, ‘Von der Leyen responds to the needs expressed by European farmers.
The community executive wants “Member States to have access, when presenting their initial plan, to up to two thirds of the amount normally available for the mid-term review. This represents around 45 billion euros that can be mobilized immediately to support farmers”, he guaranteed.
The funds already reserved for the Common Agricultural Policy, said Von der Leyen, will add to the 6.3 billion euros available to address market disruptions and stabilize agricultural markets — the so-called Unitary Safety Net.
Crisis payments, on the other hand, may be received through the 10% flexibility margin provided for in national and regional plans, in the event of natural disasters, adverse weather events or animal diseases.
Furthermore, to ensure that rural areas benefit from a comprehensive policy approach that responds to their challenges, at least 10% of the resources of each National and Regional Partnership Plan should be dedicated to supporting investments in these territories.
Member States will allocate a share of at least 10% for the rural world to measures to be implemented in the agricultural sector in the initial programming phase, as is the case in the current budget cycle, unless they opt for measures specifically dedicated to rural areas.
The objective for the rural world will amount to 48.7 billion euros, an amount that could increase to 63.7 billion euros through the possibility offered by the “Catalyst Europe” loan fund.
The Commission guarantees that the proposed level of support is, “in some aspects, higher than that of the current budget cycle — which will make the European agricultural sector more competitive and better able to face global challenges”.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, meets this Wednesday in Brussels with EU ministers, including José Manuel Fernandes, representing Portugal.
