The Council's Working Party on Agricultural Products is scheduled to meet on 23 September 2026 in Brussels to exchange views on two draft regulations amending existing EU agricultural rules, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published by the Council on 29 July 2026. The meeting, set for 10:00 at the LEX Building, will focus on changes to Regulation (EU) 1308/2013—covering the school scheme, sectoral interventions, the protein sector, hemp, marketing standards, import duties, availability of supplies, and securities—as well as a separate regulation specifically amending the EU school scheme fixing regulation. The agenda lists the items as exchanges of views, indicating that no formal decisions are expected at this stage.
The meeting is part of the ongoing legislative process to revise the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The draft regulations under discussion would amend the basic CAP regulation and the related fixing regulation, with a dedicated focus on the school scheme, which provides EU funding for the distribution of fruit, vegetables, and milk to schoolchildren. The working party, composed of agricultural attachés from member states, serves as a preparatory body for the Council's Special Committee on Agriculture and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The outcome of these exchanges will feed into the Council's position ahead of negotiations with the European Parliament, which has yet to adopt its own stance on the proposals.
The proposed amendments touch on several politically sensitive areas. The inclusion of the protein sector and hemp in the scope of sectoral interventions reflects a push to strengthen EU protein self-sufficiency and clarify rules for hemp cultivation, which has gained attention as a potential crop for green transition and industrial uses. Changes to marketing standards and import duties could affect trade flows and consumer information, while provisions on availability of supplies and securities aim to address market stability concerns. The school scheme amendments are likely to be scrutinized for their budgetary implications and administrative burden on member states, as well as for their impact on child nutrition and agricultural markets.
Stakeholders with the most at stake include EU farmers and producer organisations, particularly in the protein and hemp sectors, who could benefit from new intervention options but may face compliance costs. Food processors and distributors would be affected by revised marketing standards and import duty changes, potentially altering supply chains and price competitiveness. National authorities in EU member states would need to implement any new rules, bearing the administrative burden of adjusting their CAP strategic plans and school scheme programmes. EU taxpayers and consumers would be impacted through the EU budget and potential changes in food availability and pricing, especially for schoolchildren benefiting from the school scheme.
The meeting is expected to produce a clearer picture of member states' positions, which will inform the Council's next steps. Following the working party, the Special Committee on Agriculture will likely take up the file, with the Agriculture and Fisheries Council potentially adopting a general approach later in the year. The European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development will also begin its work on the proposals, setting the stage for interinstitutional negotiations. The timeline for final adoption remains uncertain, but the 23 September exchange of views marks a concrete step in the legislative process.