EU agriculture ministers on 13 July 2026 broadly endorsed the Commission's livestock strategy and protein plan but diverged sharply on financing, animal welfare timelines, and trade reciprocity, according to a Council summary. Poland (PfE) warned against costly new obligations, while Denmark (Renew) and the Netherlands (Renew) pushed for ambitious emissions cuts and welfare improvements.
Hungary (PfE) and Romania (PfE) demanded impact assessments and funding before stricter rules. On the protein plan, Poland and France (Renew) called for higher self-sufficiency targets and equivalent import standards, while Estonia (Renew) and Finland (Renew) supported openness to Ukrainian protein imports. Many delegations, including Greece (EPP) and Czechia (EPP), stressed that CAP resources alone are insufficient and called for complementary financing from the Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe. On animal welfare, Commissioner Christophe Hansen announced revisions for laying hens and broilers by end-2026 and pigs by Q2 2027, but Poland and Hungary opposed cage bans without prior assessment. On the emerald ash borer, Hungary (PfE) urged coordinated eradication, with Slovakia (EPP) and Romania (EPP) backing cross-border action. Next steps: further discussion in the Special Committee on Agriculture in September, with a presidency report by year-end. The debate exposed a cleavage between member states prioritising competitiveness and those pushing for faster sustainability, with financing and trade reciprocity as key sticking points. Livestock farmers face potential cost increases from welfare rules, while protein-crop growers could benefit from higher self-sufficiency targets. Food processors may face higher input costs, and animal welfare groups see mixed progress. EU trade partners, especially Ukraine, face uncertain access if import standards are tightened.