The European commissioner for agriculture, Christophe Hansen, has raised concerns about the upcoming European Council discussions on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the years 2028 to 2034 and the overall EU budget. The European Council will meet in Brussels on October 14 and 15, where leaders from member states will discuss these topics. Hansen pointed out that agriculture ministers are pushing for a stronger, more sustainable CAP and a larger budget than what is currently being proposed. However, not all member states may agree on this direction. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has criticized the "massive cuts" proposed by Germany and five other countries—Austria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden—in the next EU budget. Hansen emphasized the need for a strong, unified CAP to ensure European agriculture remains productive, resilient, and sustainable. France, a major recipient of CAP funding, is advocating for a large budget for agriculture and the continuation of shared policies, rather than allowing individual countries to manage agricultural support independently. Agriculture is a strategic sector for the EU, which is the world's top exporter of agricultural products. According to Hansen, the EU has around 9 million farms, generates nearly 900 billion euros in annual added value, and provides jobs for 30 million people—more than double the number of jobs in the automotive industry. He stressed that farmers need stability and financial support, as they are expected to take on roles that may be more demanding than those in other parts of the world. Hansen warned that without ensuring food sovereignty, the EU could face significant financial and quality-related costs for its citizens. He described this as a major responsibility for the EU. For the future CAP, Brussels has proposed a "sanctuary" minimum of about 300 billion euros in agricultural income support, compared to 387 billion euros for the period 2021-2027. In response to concerns from farmers, von der Leyen announced in January an additional nearly 100 billion euros in support.