The Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) of the EU Council has published a provisional agenda for its meeting on 6 July 2026, listing key items including the adoption of a legislative act amending Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations on fertilisers, a debate on the Livestock Strategy and Protein Plan, and a discussion on women in agriculture. The agenda, released on 2 July 2026, also includes a decision to derogate from the eight-week period for national parliamentary scrutiny under Protocol 1, which could reduce the time for national parliaments to review the fertiliser amendment.
The fertiliser regulation amendment is expected to alter CAP support conditions, potentially affecting farmers' input costs and environmental compliance requirements. The derogation from the eight-week scrutiny period may limit democratic oversight by national parliaments, a move that could face pushback from member states prioritising subsidiarity. The Presidency will present its work programme for the second half of 2026, setting priorities for agricultural policy and influencing legislative and strategic directions. The Commission is scheduled to inform the SCA about delegated acts planned for the same period.
The SCA will prepare a Council debate on women in agriculture, which could lead to new measures promoting gender equality and rural development. A presentation and preparation for a Council debate on the Livestock Strategy and Protein Plan aim to reshape EU livestock production, sustainability goals, and protein self-sufficiency. Trade-related agricultural issues will also be discussed, potentially affecting EU trade negotiations, market access, and competitiveness of EU agricultural products. The meeting will address the organisation of future work, including the first reading of a Commission proposal, which could accelerate or delay legislative processes.
Stakeholders likely to be impacted include EU farmers, who may face new compliance costs or benefit from adjusted support; national parliaments, whose scrutiny time may be curtailed; EU agri-food businesses, which could see changes in market access and trade conditions; and environmental groups, who may welcome or criticise the sustainability aspects of the livestock strategy and fertiliser amendment. The meeting outcomes will shape the EU's agricultural policy direction for the second half of 2026.