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The European Commission has proposed allocating €540 million in emergency aid to EU farmers hit by soaring fertilizer and energy prices caused by the Middle East crisis and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Czech Republic would receive €10.87 million, Slovakia €6.58 million, and the largest shares would go to France, Poland, Germany, and Spain. Allocations are based on each country’s share of CAP direct payments and the actual expenditures of farmers. Member States may augment this support with national co-financing of up to 200%, which could collectively raise total aid to €1.5 billion. The proposal responds to steep input cost increases, with nitrogen fertilizer prices in May 2026 up 30% from February and 70% above the 2024 average. National governments will review and vote on the draft regulation on 17 July 2026, with financial support to be paid by 28 February 2027 and any supplementary funds by 31 May 2027.

On 1 July 2026, Ireland took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Cyprus for a term lasting until 31 December 2026. Ireland’s agenda highlights advancing negotiations on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, with a second revised negotiating text featuring fiscal details expected by October. Concluding talks on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform will also be a priority, focusing on issues such as mandatory caps on direct payments and ending support for pensioner farmers. Ireland will lead discussions on the new EU livestock strategy, anticipated to bring stricter animal welfare rules and new methane reporting methods. Fisheries policy, including future funding negotiations and fishing quotas, will remain in focus. Ireland will also facilitate reforms to the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and discuss potential reforms of the Common Fisheries Policy.
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During the AGRIFISH Council on 23 June 2026, EU agriculture ministers debated the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). While there was consensus on maintaining a unified CAP, most Member States called for more flexibility and subsidiarity, particularly regarding income support, environmental measures, and sectoral interventions—seeking greater national discretion over what remains mandatory. The Cypriot Presidency highlighted this push for flexibility, but Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen cautioned against diluting common rules. Hansen criticised national proposals making environmental actions and support for small farms largely voluntary, warning it undermines a fair CAP budget and complicates effective targeting. He also flagged the expansion of National and Regional Partnership Plans to cover entities beyond primary farms, necessitating clear EU definitions like that of “active farmer.” Despite concerns, Hansen welcomed that mandatory school nutrition and sectoral intervention programmes are preserved in the proposed reforms.
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On 26 June 2026, the EU Council adopted a partial negotiating mandate for a regulation aimed at harmonising and strengthening the performance framework of the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The initiative focuses on simplifying reporting, reducing administrative costs, boosting transparency, and establishing common EU budget principles, including gender equality, climate goals, and the "do no significant harm" standard. Key elements include a single EU funding portal, common evaluation methodologies, and harmonised monitoring via unified indicators. The Council also calls for a strict methodology for the “do no significant harm” test and insists on a “once-only” reporting principle to reduce paperwork for Member States and recipients. The mandate excludes broader horizontal MFF issues but allows negotiations with the European Parliament to begin, aiming for an agreement by late 2026 and launching new funding programmes in 2028.
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On 17 June 2026, the European Parliament gave final approval to new rules governing the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in agriculture. The regulation, adopted after a legislative process beginning in 2023, exempts plants with genetic modifications that could naturally occur or result from conventional breeding from strict GMO regulations. This is intended to enable quicker introduction of improved crop varieties, fostering resilience to drought, pests, and climate challenges. Parliament rejected amendments that would have added stricter patent protection or mandatory product labelling, upholding the compromise agreement with the Council. According to Farm Europe, adoption of the rules is a critical step for EU agricultural competitiveness and innovation, addressing climate and pest pressures as well as reduced plant protection options.
More information is available here.