Wojciechowski wants more EU money for agriculture, but only after 2027

Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski believes that the EU should allocate more funds for the new European agricultural policy, over four years from now, after 2027. He made this statement on Tuesday, on the eve of the presentation (Wednesday) of new structural agreements on the European budgets.

Wojciechowski thinks that for the 2027–2032 agricultural policy, the same mistake should not be made as in the current CAP, where the financial framework was determined first, and only afterward the tasks. Wojciechowski argues that it should be the other way around.

He said that while the current European Commission wants to set the first frameworks for renewal, decisions will be left to the new Commission. European elections will be held in early 2024, and a new European Commission will be formed at the end of 2024.

Wojciechowski states that from 2027 onwards, the agricultural policy must do more to counter the continued decline in the number of agricultural businesses in EU countries, and to encourage more young farmers. His public statements on Tuesday, ahead of the official presentation, indicate that apparently no financial arrangements have yet been made for the renewal of the CAP after 2027.

Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag expects an “exciting period of negotiations” over new European budgetary rules. Those rules (budget deficit not exceeding 3 percent of GDP; national debt not higher than 60 percent) were temporarily suspended shortly after the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Commission wants to restore the so-called Stability and Growth Pact in 2024, but with the necessary adjustments and improvements.