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France Pushes Back as EU Budget Plan Seeks to Cap and Restructure Common Agricultural Policy

French ministers have publicly condemned the plan, vowing to defend direct payments as EU capitals begin two years of budget talks.

Overview

  • The European Commission’s draft 2028–2034 budget merges the PAC with cohesion policy into a single national and regional fund while guaranteeing a €300 billion floor for agricultural income support.
  • Member states would gain greater discretion to reallocate EU funds across agriculture, cohesion, defense and other priorities under the new partnership vehicle.
  • Hundreds of farmers rallied in Brussels under the FNSEA banner on July 17, denouncing the fusion as a provocation and warning of dilution of vital direct payments.
  • On July 18, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard and Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad warned the reform threatens France’s agricultural sovereignty and pledged to safeguard every euro of PAC aid.
  • EU leaders kicked off negotiations at the Council’s General Affairs meeting, launching a two-year marathon to reconcile Brussels’ blueprint with member-state demands.