{"id":118431,"date":"2025-07-17T17:53:25","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T15:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=118431"},"modified":"2025-07-18T09:23:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T07:23:39","slug":"new-eu-farm-policy-writes-blank-cheque-for-member-states-threatening-green-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/new-eu-farm-policy-writes-blank-cheque-for-member-states-threatening-green-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"New EU farm policy writes blank cheque for Member States threatening green transition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Brussels, 16 July 2025<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> &#8211;<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The European Commission\u2019s <\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/transparency\/documents-register\/detail?ref=COM(2025)560&amp;lang=en\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">proposal<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> for a reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027 \u2013 which currently accounts for a third of the ongoing EU budget \u2013 fails to guarantee minimum funding to support farmers in the green transition, leaving ambition entirely in the hands of \u2013 generally reluctant \u2013 Farm Ministers.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), alongside other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwf.eu\/?18641366\/CAP-No-strings-attached-flexibility-set-to-shrink-sustainable-food-production\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">environmental <\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">organisations<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, warns that without dedicated funding and stronger safeguards, the EU risks falling dangerously short on climate and biodiversity targets, while creating a fragmented, unlevel playing field for farmers across Europe. This jeopardises the resilience of agricultural land in the face of the triple climate, nature, and pollution crisis, directly threatening farmers\u2019 livelihoods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Th\u00e9o Paquet, Senior Policy Officer for Agriculture at the EEB, said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8220;This proposal effectively hands Members States a blank cheque to rewrite the rules whilst failing to ringfence a single euro for achieving environmental objectives &#8211; a move that will trigger a race to the bottom and leave farmers alone in the fight against the climate crisis. The only silver lining is the long-overdue reform of \u201cincome support\u201d payments, which would prioritise farmers in need of support, rather than rewarding large farms based on size alone.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The EEB finds the following unacceptable:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The complete lack of dedicated financing for achieving environmental measures, jeopardising the EU&#8217;s ability to reach its climate and environmental objectives.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Following <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/nature-and-climate-protection-takes-another-major-hit-in-eu-proposal-to-simplify-agricultural-policy\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">recent waves<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fast-and-loose-historic-move-as-eu-rushes-to-remove-environmental-safeguards-in-the-cap-despite-renewed-calls-from-scientists-to-accelerate-climate-action\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">simplification<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d where environmental safeguards were stripped from the current CAP, this proposal grants Member States excessive discretion in defining the environmental conditions farmers must meet to receive subsidies. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ieep.eu\/publications\/environmental-and-climate-assessments-of-cap-strategic-plans\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Analysis shows<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that when provided with such flexibilities, Member States lower environmental standards and lose policy cohesion, as green ambition is perceived as a competitive disadvantage despite the real risk these actions pose to the integrity of the EU single market, once the cornerstone of EU competitiveness.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The lack of meaningful targets or means to track performance grants Member States huge flexibility to use public funds without the guarantee that they will deliver real results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Maintenance of harmful subsidies in the form of \u201ccoupled support\u201d (to, for example, intensive dairy farming) and \u201cinvestment support\u201d (to, for example, unsustainable irrigation) due to the lack of meaningful and comprehensive environmental safeguards attached to these specific measures, despite <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwf.eu\/?13738416\/Member-States-use-billions-of-EU-subsidies-to-fund-nature-harming-activities---new-WWF-study\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">well-documented evidence<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of negative environmental impacts. Furthermore, the amount of funding for \u201ccoupled support\u201d has increased, potentially increasing the harmful impacts. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The EEB welcomes:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The mandatory capping and gradual reduction in area-based income support is a welcome and long-overdue step. If maintained after negotiations in the Parliament and among Member States, this would finally initiate a move away from the current system that rewards the largest farms based on their size alone, leading to 20% of farmers receiving 80% of funds. By limiting and gradually reducing payments for the largest farms, this measure would contribute to a fairer and less wasteful agricultural policy.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Aptos&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The streamlining of green farm payments and the introduction of new \u201ctransition actions\u201d to support farms based on an approved transition plan. Member States will also be required to put in place schemes that: support commitments to maintain organic farming; promote the extensification of livestock production; and that support farmers who wish to transition. However, in the absence of a dedicated budget, these measures risk remaining little more than symbolic gestures, with insufficient support to drive the large-scale change that is urgently needed to protect farmers and their land from climate and environmental breakdown.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0[ENDS]<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Notes for editors<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Read the EEB, BirdLife Europe, WWF European Policy Office, Greenpeace European Unit&#8217;s joint position paper which argues that the current CAP lacks legitimacy and should be replaced with a Common Agricultural, Food, and Land Stewardship Policy: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/library\/time-for-farmers-and-nature-to-thrive-a-proposal-for-a-performance-based-policy-to-drive-the-transition-of-europes-food-and-farming-sector\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Time for farmers and nature to thrive: A proposal for a performance-based policy to drive the transition of Europe\u2019s food and farming sector<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 includes a commitment to \u201cmainstream\u201d climate and biodiversity across policy areas by ensuring that 35% of the budget supports activities related to climate and biodiversity. While this sounds promising, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eca.europa.eu\/en\/publications\/SR21_16\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">2021 special report<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> by the European Court of Auditors found that despite the \u20ac100 billion &#8220;climate spending\u201d (over the 2014-2020 budget period) in the CAP there was little impact on emissions, in part due to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ieep.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NABU-Climate-tracking-briefing-IEEP-FINAL.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">flawed methodologies<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in labelling \u201cclimate spending\u201d in agriculture. \u201cMainstreaming\u201d differs from \u201cringfencing\u201d in that it relies on ex-post labelling of expenditure as \u201cclimate or biodiversity spending\u201d based on standard \u201cmarkers\u201d, whereas ringfencing requires ex-ante allocation of funding to specific measures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:120,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brussels, 16 July 2025 &#8211; The European Commission\u2019s proposal for a reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027 \u2013 which currently accounts for a third of<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":118433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/chris-ensminger-yJDZTDeHeG8-unsplash-e1758617394570.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}