The European Parliament's AGRI Committee on 25 June 2026 held a public hearing on the Commission's CAP funding proposal, revealing sharp divisions among MEPs and stakeholders over the future shape of the Common Agricultural Policy. Disputes centred on seven key issues: whether CAP should remain autonomous or be integrated into national partnership plans; ring-fenced funding versus flexible co-financing; common rules versus national flexibility; capping and degressivity; environmental incentives versus competitiveness; administrative simplification versus new complexity; and the timing of the transition.
Norbert Lins (EPP) opened the hearing, which was chaired by Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR). Maria Skovager Østergaard of COPA-COGECA urged a farmer-usable CAP toolbox with incentive-based green support, while Luc Vernet of Farm Europe backed an autonomous CAP plan with its own rules. Markus Hopfner, representing the Austrian CAP Strategic Plans Managing Authority, warned of added governance burdens, and Silvia Capdevila of FEGA, Spain, argued the model could cut resources and complicate planning. The European Commission representative defended the proposal as preserving a minimum ring-fence for farmers while improving synergies.
On the autonomy question, MEPs Cristina Maestre (S&D) and Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR) opposed any dilution of CAP's independent structure. Barry Cowen (Renew) warned that flexible co-financing could lead to budget cuts. Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA) and Carmen Crespo Díaz (EPP) stressed the need for a level playing field under common rules. Capping and degressivity were opposed by Østergaard and Arno Bausemer (ESN) but supported by Waitz and Asger Christensen (Renew). Jessika van Leeuwen (ECR) warned against purely extensive approaches to environmental incentives, arguing competitiveness must be maintained. Hopfner and Capdevila both cited extra red tape from the proposed model, pushing back on simplification claims.
Despite the disagreements, consensus emerged on preserving CAP's common character, ring-fenced funding, predictability, simplification, support for young farmers, and environmental action. Many MEPs supported a transition year to ease implementation. The hearing will feed into Parliament's legislative work on the CAP reform file.
Farmers and their associations (COPA-COGECA) would benefit from a simpler, incentive-based toolbox but face uncertainty if capping reduces direct payments. National administrations (like Austria and Spain) would bear additional governance burdens under integrated plans, potentially straining resources. Environmental NGOs would gain from stronger green incentives and capping, but risk pushback if competitiveness concerns dilute ambition. The European Commission would see its proposal challenged on multiple fronts, with a possible shift toward more national flexibility or a longer transition period.