Agriculture, 28 September 2026
Post-2027 common agricultural policy (CAP)
The Council took stock of the progress made so far on the post-2027 CAP regulation and provided further political guidance on the outstanding issues. The Irish presidency aims to advance work on the proposal, with a view to reaching a partial general approach (PGA) at the AGRIFISH Council meeting on 26-27 October 2026.
Today’s discussion has brought us another step closer to agreeing a CAP that is fit for the future. Farmers need a policy that provides stability and a fair income, while giving them the flexibility and support to respond to the challenges ahead. We have provided clear political guidance on the issues that remain open, and we will continue working intensively to find common ground and deliver a Council partial general approach in October.
Martin Heydon – Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland
Ministers broadly welcomed the progress made so far, in particular the stronger balance between common EU rules and the flexibility needed to address different national circumstances. Overall, they shared the determination of the Irish presidency to swiftly take work forward towards reaching a partial Council position. At the same time, they called for simplified rules to ease the administrative burden for both farmers and national administrations, as well as for increased flexibility for provisions related to degressivity of direct payments and capping, which are being addressed in the context of the MFF negotiating box. Several ministers also called for further finetuning when it comes to the definitions of “farmer” and “active farmer”, as well as for clarifications regarding the transition between the EU’s current long-term budget and the new period.
Overall, the discussion provided political guidance for the next stage of negotiations, with technical work to continue on this basis.
- Post-2027 CAP (background note)
- The common agricultural policy explained (background information)
- The EU’s long-term budget (background information)
Market situation
Ministers discussed the current challenges facing the EU agricultural sector, in particular in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with a view to providing further political guidance on how to address these challenges.
The first part of the discussion took place in the presence of the Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotskyi. The Council welcomed the Ukrainian minister and the opportunity to hear directly about the situation in Ukraine. Ministers stressed the importance of continuing to support Ukraine and expressed their strong support for Ukrainian farmers.
Several ministers noted a slight improvement or stabilisation in agricultural markets overall. However, many continued to highlight the challenges faced by farmers, including high input and production costs, particularly for fertilisers and energy, as well as lower output prices, which are putting pressure on farmers’ profit margins.
Ministers also discussed the impact of the heatwaves experienced during the summer and the resulting severe drought conditions in several member states. These conditions have affected farmers and, in particular, the volume and quality of agricultural production. Against this backdrop, ministers exchanged views on possible targeted measures, flexibility and EU support to help farmers address the impacts of severe drought, in both the short and the longer term. Ministers also considered how the EU could further adapt agricultural practices and water management strategies to better protect the agricultural sector from extreme weather events.
Strengthening the resilience of the agricultural sector in the face of crises and geopolitical developments was a common theme throughout the discussion.
- The impact of the drought in Slovakia (information from Slovakia)
- The impact of the ongoing drought on Austrian and European agriculture (information from Austria)
- The increasing impact of the drought on the Slovenian and European agriculture sector (information from Slovenia)
- The impact of drought in Croatia and the EU (information from Croatia)
Informal lunch
Over a working lunch, ministers discussed the medium- and long-term aspects of the European Commission’s fertiliser action plan.
Published on 19 May 2026, the plan aims to improve the short-term affordability and availability of fertilisers, strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and domestic resilience over the medium and longer term, and enhance transparency and dialogue across the fertiliser supply chain.
The plan sets out a range of actions for the short, medium and long term. Immediate measures to ease pressure on fertiliser production costs and prices and help secure supplies for farmers have already been implemented. These include increasing the 2026 agricultural reserve, and adopting a regulation establishing a new liquidity scheme for farmers, providing greater flexibility for advance payments, as well as giving member states the option to adjust their direct payment allocations for 2027.
Against this backdrop, ministers welcomed the Commission’s fertiliser action plan and exchanged views on the priority actions needed to ensure the availability and affordability of fertilisers for EU farmers, while strengthening the resilience of the sector.
Other points
- The outcome of a recent MED9 meeting (information from Croatia)
- Transitional national aid (information from Romania, on behalf of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia)
- Agricultural reserve use for the olive oil sector (information from Italy)
- The importance of the common market organisation for fruit and vegetables (information from Belgium)
Agenda update on Fisheries for 29 September 2026
EU support to fisheries, aquaculture and maritime policy for 2028-2034
In public session, the Council is expected to seek a partial general approach on the regulation setting out the conditions for the EU’s support for the common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU’s maritime and aquaculture policies, and the ocean pact for the 2028-2034 period.
The proposed regulation forms part of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. The general approach that the Council aims to obtain would be ‘partial’ because it would exclude financial and horizontal issues. These are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the overall MFF 2028-2034.
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
The Council is also expected to hold a public debate on the regulation amending the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
EU-UK and EU-Norway and coastal states fisheries consultations
The Council will discuss the management of fish stocks shared with the United Kingdom for 2027, with a view to the upcoming annual consultations with the UK. Fisheries ministers will also address the upcoming bilateral EU-Norway consultations on fishing opportunities for 2027, as well as stocks that are managed trilaterally by the EU, Norway and the UK, and consultations that will take place with coastal states in the North-East Atlantic.
Preparatory documents
- List of A items, legislative deliberations
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional agenda
- Background brief
Outcome documents
Press releases
- Human rights violations in Russia: Council lists ten individuals over the barring of Yabloko from the State Duma elections
- EU sanctions 10 individuals and 17 entities over unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia
- EU CSDP civilian missions: Council renews mandates of EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS until 30 June 2027
- ‘Pharma package’: Council adopts new rules for a fairer and more competitive EU pharmaceutical sector
-
- Social security coordination: Council gives final green light to updated rules
Source – EU Council