French farming unions warn of CAP budget risks

French agricultural unions FNSEA and Jeunes Agriculteurs (JA) have reminded President Emmanuel Macron of his earlier commitment to securing a strong budget for the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which supports farmers across Europe. They are concerned about a compromise proposal from the Irish presidency, which they believe threatens the stability of agricultural funding.

CAP’s role in sustainability and food security

The unions emphasized that the CAP is crucial for enabling farmers to produce food sustainably and reliably for European citizens. They argue that a strong CAP budget is essential to address challenges like climate change, economic pressures, and geopolitical instability.

Divided views on CAP budget for 2028-34

The European Union must agree on the CAP budget for 2028-34, but member states are divided. "Frugal" countries like Germany are pushing for cuts, while France and others are advocating for new funding sources to maintain agricultural support.

France’s potential CAP budget cut

JA-FNSEA warned that the first budgetary proposal is concerning, as France could face a 13% reduction in its CAP funding. They called this reduction incoherent with current global conditions and urged Macron to honor his commitment to a stable and inflation-adjusted CAP budget.

Proposed CAP funding and shifting priorities

Brussels has proposed a minimum "sanctuary" of about 300 billion euros in agricultural support for the new CAP, down from 387 billion euros for the current period. While the European Commission had initially proposed an additional 100 billion euros, some countries now want to redirect that funding to other areas.

Criticism of Irish compromise proposal

The Confédération paysanne called the Irish compromise proposal a "sabotage," arguing that it weakens the redistribution of CAP funds by making key elements like capping payments and supporting small farmers optional. The union stressed that redistribution is vital to keep farms viable across all regions and sectors.

Lack of national dialogue on CAP position

The union also noted that the French government has not created a formal dialogue mechanism with all stakeholders to shape France’s position during ongoing negotiations, leaving concerns unaddressed as discussions continue.