Main results
Post-2027 common agricultural policy proposals
Ministers discussed the CAP national recommendations proposed by the Commission. Discussions focused on the scope of the recommendations, particularly their role in shaping CAP interventions, their interaction with other policy areas under the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), the timeline for their adoption, and the involvement of member states in the process.
Key concerns raised by member states included the need for timely issuance of recommendations to support national planning, where many called for appropriate transitional arrangements. Ministers also reminded of the need to ensure that the recommendations are evidence-based, aligned with national priorities and local specificities and based on the existing CAP strategic plans.
The recommendations are intended to guide member states in preparing their NRPPs and implementing CAP-related objectives. They will serve as a strategic tool to identify key agricultural challenges, such as farm income, competitiveness, generational renewal, climate performance, resilience to risks, and knowledge and innovation.
The debate also aimed also to clarify how the recommendations can enhance the effectiveness and ambition of the future CAP under the MFF 2028-2034.
The discussions took place within the broader context of determining the future direction of the CAP, with national recommendations positioned as non-legally binding instruments that offer policy guidance while allowing flexibility for member states to adapt interventions to their unique circumstances and national and regional specificities.
Ministers agreed that the recommendations must align with the NRPPs and the broader EU framework, ensuring coherence with other Union policies.
Today’s meeting focused on strengthening food security as a key pillar of enhancing the EU’s strategic autonomy. Discussions emphasised supporting the agricultural sector, ensuring fair protection for farmers across the food supply chain, and reinforcing the EU’s leadership in promoting global food security.
Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus
Evaluation of the unfair trading practices (UTP) directive (in public session)
The Council discussed the report on the evaluation of the UTP directive presented by the Commission.
According to the evaluation report, which was published by the Commission in December 2025, the directive (from 2019) has contributed to a reduction in certain unfair trading practices, most notably late payments, and to improved enforcement across the Union. It has also provided a minimum level of protection for farmers and small suppliers in all member states, thereby contributing to a more level playing field. At the same time, the evaluation identifies important challenges and areas where further reflection may be needed, such as the inconsistent enforcement of the directive across member states, which has led to varying levels of protection for suppliers, and concerns related to retaliation among suppliers, preventing them from filing complaints despite awareness-raising efforts.
The debate aimed to provide input for a future review of the UTP directive later in 2026, with a view to strengthening the position of farmers in the food supply chain and improving the effective implementation of the existing framework across the EU.
As part of efforts to further strengthen the position of farmers in the food chain, on 10 December 2024 the Commission proposed legislation containing new rules on cross-border enforcement of the UTP directive. Political agreement on the proposal was reached by the co-legislators in November 2025. The new regulation is anticipated to be published in the Official Journal in spring 2026.
Informal lunch
During an informal lunch ministers discussed ‘the EU strategic priorities for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for 2026 and 2027’.
Fonte: Conselho Europeu
