Austrian MEP Alexander Bernhuber (PPE) has raised concerns over the geographical imbalance in the distribution of funding under the EU's promotion of agricultural products programme (AGRIP), questioning whether the current allocation is compatible with the Treaty objective of strengthening the competitiveness of the Union's agricultural sector as a whole. The written question, submitted on 8 April 2026, highlights that a small number of Member States receive a disproportionately large share of AGRIP funds, leaving nearly half of Member States regularly without any funding.
Concrete data cited
According to statistics from the European Research Executive Agency for the period 2016-2024, successful applicants in the 2025 selection round came from only 15 of the 27 Member States, and 74% of the budget targeted markets in just four Member States. Bernhuber asks the Commission how it assesses this situation and what concrete measures it intends to take within the current programming period to ensure a more balanced geographical distribution of AGRIP funds across all 27 Member States.
Policy direction and ambition
The question signals a push for greater equity in EU agricultural promotion spending, potentially leading to reforms in the allocation criteria or additional support for under-represented Member States. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it shares the MEP's concerns and what steps it may consider to address the imbalance.