At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 June 2026, the Cyprus presidency presented its legislative achievements, including progress on the Common Market Organisation, reproductive material regulation, and the chemicals omnibus, as well as a Council mandate on CAP strategic plans to improve farmers' access to fertilisers. EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen highlighted the fertiliser action plan and a €540 million exceptional support package for farmers, with €56 million already allocated from the agricultural reserve for climate-affected farmers in Portugal, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, and Slovenia.
The debate on the future CAP after 2027 centred on balancing flexibility for member states with common EU objectives. Minister María Panayiotou stressed the need for a simpler, less burdensome CAP that recognises national specificities while maintaining a level playing field. Commissioner Hansen pushed back against making too many elements voluntary, warning that this could undermine the CAP's common nature. The cleavage runs between member states seeking greater national discretion and the Commission's insistence on preserving a unified framework to avoid market distortion.
On market developments, the wine sector faces structural challenges, while dairy and beef remain resilient. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka joined discussions, and Hansen noted Ukraine's role in the upcoming EU protein plan. The Spanish minister criticised the fertiliser action plan for lacking direct EU financial support, but Hansen defended the reallocation of CAP funds as already agricultural spending. The presidency will pass to Ireland.
EU farmers face a trade-off between simpler, nationally tailored rules and the risk of uneven competition if common standards are diluted. Food processors benefit from stable supply chains if dairy and beef remain resilient, but wine producers face continued structural pressure. Rural communities may gain from the exceptional support package but see limited direct EU funding for fertiliser access. Ukraine's integration into the EU protein plan could open new market opportunities for Ukrainian producers while increasing competition for EU farmers.