A group of eleven EU member states, led by Italy and supported by Czechia, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain, has called on the European Commission to reconsider the financial allocations for the 2027 Annual Work Programme (AWP) for EU agri-food promotion policy. In a note submitted for the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 13 July 2026, the signatories argue that the proposed budget cut undermines strategic objectives of resilience, market diversification, and access for smaller producers.
The Commission presented initial orientations for the 2027 AWP on 23 June during the CMO Committee – Promotion meeting, with the final document still under preparation. The draft proposes total resources of EUR 112 million for SIMPLE and MULTI programmes in 2027, down from EUR 160 million in 2026. SIMPLE programmes would receive EUR 92 million (compared to EUR 100 million in 2026), while MULTI programmes would be cut to EUR 20 million from EUR 60 million — a two-thirds reduction.
The signatories note that 2026 applications showed demand far exceeding the budget for SIMPLE programmes and a very high uptake for MULTI programmes. They share the Commission's stated objectives for the 2027 AWP — including strengthening resilience, diversifying markets, improving access for smaller organisations, and ensuring geographical balance — but contend that the proposed resource level is inconsistent with those ambitions. They specifically ask the Commission to preserve a funding level for MULTI programmes closer to the 2026 allocation of EUR 60 million.
The proposed cuts risk weakening EU agri-food competitiveness, market diversification, and rural development, according to the member states. The Council is expected to discuss the issue at its 13 July meeting, with the Commission urged to restore adequate and stable funding.