Future CAP: regions call for fair support and generational renewal

Growing trade disruptions and US tariffs threaten EU agri-food sectors with uneven regional impacts.

Members of the Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) of the European Committee of the Regions met on 20 and 21 April to discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). At a time of rising costs, climate pressures, and trade volatility, local and regional representatives highlighted the urgent need for stronger multilevel governance, fair support measures, and targeted actions to ensure stability, rural development, and resilience against external shocks.

The draft opinion on the CAP 2028-2034 led by the NAT Chair, Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP), President of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, supports degressive area-based income support to reduce inequalities and calls for a coherent, integrated and strategic CAP to contribute to a resilient, competitive and innovative agricultural sector in all rural territories. NAT members further advocate for territorial impact assessments of income support measures to ensure that redistribution mechanisms effectively reduce disparities without causing unintended regional imbalances.

While welcoming increased flexibility for Member States and regions to tailor interventions to local needs, the draft opinion emphasises that the European Commission must safeguard a level playing field across the Single Market. Members of the NAT commission also warn that new co-financing rules could reduce investment in environmental goals, particularly in less wealthy Member States. Therefore, they propose to reduce the level of national cofinancing to 20% for agri-environmental and climate actions.

In addition, members of the NAT commission adopted a draft opinion highlighting the importance of generational renewal as a cornerstone of the future of EU agriculture. Led by Emiliano García-Page Sánchez (ES/PES), President of the Government of the Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha, the draft opinion welcomes the dedicated strategy but stresses that persistent barriers-such as limited access to land, finance, and services-must be addressed through stronger rural development policies and binding financial support.

Agri-foodtrade in a changing world

The EU agri-food sector is navigating one of the most challenging periods in its recent history. In addition to persistently high energy and input costs as well as climate change-related disasters, regions and local authorities are increasingly exposed to geopolitical volatility and disruptions to trade flows.

In this context, the NAT commission conducted a study on the repercussions of US agri-food tariffs on EU regions, highlighting a projected 23.5% drop in EU agri-food exports to the US, equivalent to around €7 billion annually. The findings show highly uneven impacts, with the most severe losses concentrated in specific Member States, regions, and high-value sectors such as wine, olive oil, and processed food products. The study also underscores that SMEs and cooperatives are disproportionately affected, facing reduced margins, market access constraints, and increased vulnerability due to limited capacity to absorb shocks or diversify exports.

Quotes

Rapporteur Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP), President of theKujawsko-Pomorskie Region: "The aim is to move away from a one-size-fits-all and top-down model toward a more balanced policy tailored to the realities of individual regions. In the opinion, I highlight, among other priorities, the need to ensure sufficient investment capacity within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to reinforce the principle of subsidiarity. As well we underline the importance of environmental aspects, the development of local food systems, and the need for multi-level governance and partnerships, with real involvement of local and regional authorities at every stage."

As Chair of NAT, he added: "A trade war benefits no one, as it restricts economic freedom, the flow of goods, and trade, while weakening development. It is also harmful from the perspective of international relations. The recent exchange of blows between the USA and the EU serves no one - neither Americans nor Europeans."

Rapporteur Emiliano García-Page Sánchez (ES/PES), President of the Government of the Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha: "Generational renewal is a crucial issue for the future of Europe's rural areas, a strategic sector for the economy in the medium and long term. It would be deeply regrettable if, after generations of European investment through the CAP, the countryside was ultimately abandoned by Europeans themselves. That would amount to the clearest sign of a broader failure. For this reason, ensuring sufficient financial resources is absolutely essential to secure generational renewal."

Also during the meeting

During the second day of the meeting, on 21 April, members of the NAT commission adopted a series of opinions:

• Consumer Agenda 2025-2030 and action plan on consumers in the Single Market, by rapporteur Adam Ciszkowski (PL/ECR), Mayor ofHalinów;

• The common Fisheries Policy, the European Ocean Pact and of the Union's maritime and aquaculture policy, by rapporteur Thibaut Guignard (FR/EPP), Mayor of Ploeuc-l'Hermitage;

• Union Civil Protection Mechanism, by rapporteur Adam Banaszak (PL/EA), Councillor of Inowrocław County. Inthe context of this opinion, NAT members visited the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

Background

• Photos and videos from the meeting.

• The study (March 2026) on the repercussions of US agri-food tariffs on EU regions includes five case study regions: Veneto (IT), Champagne-Ardenne (FR), Zuid-Holland (NL), Andalusia (ES), and North Rhine-Westphalia (DE). Leaflet of the study.

• Media package on the above-mentioned study, including video statements from several CoR members.

• The Directorate of Agriculture and rural development (DG AGRI) of the European Commission has published the latest monthly agri-food trade report in March2026, showing imports and exports of EU agri-food products in January 2026.

• Follow the Press service account on X.

Contact:

Hélène DressenTel: +32 [email protected]