Farmers from across Europe have descended on the streets of Brussels on what is a crucial day for the future of agricultural policy.
The European Commission is expected to unveil its proposals for the future of the EU budget and the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) today (Wednesday, July 16).
It looks likely that the new budget for the EU, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework, will condense funding for the CAP into one single fund.
In documents seen by Agriland, it is stated that 2024-2029 Political Guidelines of the European Commission call for a CAP that is “more targeted and finds the right balance between incentives, investment and regulation and ensures that farmers have a fair and sufficient income”.
The commission proposal outlines that “the new framework guarantees coherence by integrating the CAP interventions from the current two-funds structure under one single umbrella. Such alignment brings further flexibility and simplification,” it stated.
Farming delegations from across Europe including Ireland gathered this afternoon in front of the European Parliament to embark on a day of action and a symbolic protest walk towards the Berlaymont, the commission's headquarters.
According to Copa-Cogeca, farmers are being subjected to further "uncertainty" today with the expected timeline of budget announcements.
Copa-Cogeca stated it was marching this afternoon to "oppose the historic misstep taken by the European Commission on two key pillars of European agricultural policy: the future budget framework and the CAP".
"We have been mobilising for several months, warning against a purely accounting-driven approach and the political inconsistency that would result from dissolving the CAP into a 'single fund'," Copa-Cogeca said in a statement.
"At a time when Europe faces overlapping challenges, from geopolitical instability and economic/legal uncertainty to climate change and shifting global trade, one thing is clear - food security is security.
"The EU cannot achieve true strategic autonomy without securing its agricultural sector and the cornerstone of that security is a strong, common, and well-funded agricultural policy."
Copa-Cogeca has a European-wide petition that aims to urge the commission to deliver a strong, dedicated, fully-funded two-pillar CAP.
Speaking from Brussels today, Irish Farmers' Association president Francie Gorman said that what is emerging about how farming will be funded from 2027 is "very concerning".
As it stands, the CAP provides an annual injection of nearly €2 billion into Ireland's rural economy to support food production, the IFA said.
Gorman said there is a "big battle ahead" to retrieve a coherent policy from what the commission is proposing.
Farmers are being joined by MEPs in the action today too.
Farmers protest over CAP cuts in Brussels - happening now at @Europarl_EN pic.twitter.com/jschgkBQZ1
— Ciaran Mullooly MEP (@ciaranmullooly) July 16, 2025