EU Farmers Prepare for Major Protests Against CAP Reform
Belgian and European farming organizations to mobilize in Brussels against proposed changes to agricultural funding.
Farmers from across the European Union are preparing to congregate in Brussels on May 20, 2025, to voice their opposition to a significant overhaul of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The protests are spearheaded by Copa and Cogeca, the main lobbying groups representing EU farmers, who will join Belgian national organizations, including the Walloon Farmers' Union (FWA) and the Flemish Farmers' Union (BoerenBond).
The controversy surrounds a proposed plan to merge the existing CAP framework into a single megafund, managed at the national level.
This initiative has raised alarm among farming groups, who argue that it will dismantle the current CAP structure, which has been vital in supporting European agriculture.
Copa and Cogeca have issued calls for a 'pan-European flash action,' urging farmers across the continent to engage in similar demonstrations at a national level.
The organizations contend that the proposal to centralize funds threatens to dilute the support provided to farmers, particularly in relation to governance, resources, and participation in the decision-making processes affecting the agricultural sector.
Massimiliano Giansanti, head of Copa, previously indicated that unrest within the farming community had been growing as discussions regarding the future of the CAP commenced.
A senior European Commission official confirmed that the reform plans will be presented on July 16, 2025, coinciding with the main EU budget proposal.
Tensions have escalated further in recent weeks, with farmers expressing concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the resources and governance of the proposed funding changes.
A statement from Copa and Cogeca underscored the necessity for proper consultation with the agricultural sector before any reforms can be enacted.
As such, they maintain that any moves toward further renationalization of CAP funds are unacceptable to the farming community.
This upcoming protest highlights the pivotal role of farmers within the EU's agricultural policy framework and reflects broader anxieties regarding future agricultural funding as the bloc prepares for its post-2027 budget negotiations.
The protests are spearheaded by Copa and Cogeca, the main lobbying groups representing EU farmers, who will join Belgian national organizations, including the Walloon Farmers' Union (FWA) and the Flemish Farmers' Union (BoerenBond).
The controversy surrounds a proposed plan to merge the existing CAP framework into a single megafund, managed at the national level.
This initiative has raised alarm among farming groups, who argue that it will dismantle the current CAP structure, which has been vital in supporting European agriculture.
Copa and Cogeca have issued calls for a 'pan-European flash action,' urging farmers across the continent to engage in similar demonstrations at a national level.
The organizations contend that the proposal to centralize funds threatens to dilute the support provided to farmers, particularly in relation to governance, resources, and participation in the decision-making processes affecting the agricultural sector.
Massimiliano Giansanti, head of Copa, previously indicated that unrest within the farming community had been growing as discussions regarding the future of the CAP commenced.
A senior European Commission official confirmed that the reform plans will be presented on July 16, 2025, coinciding with the main EU budget proposal.
Tensions have escalated further in recent weeks, with farmers expressing concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the resources and governance of the proposed funding changes.
A statement from Copa and Cogeca underscored the necessity for proper consultation with the agricultural sector before any reforms can be enacted.
As such, they maintain that any moves toward further renationalization of CAP funds are unacceptable to the farming community.
This upcoming protest highlights the pivotal role of farmers within the EU's agricultural policy framework and reflects broader anxieties regarding future agricultural funding as the bloc prepares for its post-2027 budget negotiations.
