On 13 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a legislative act amending EU agricultural fund rules to provide exceptional temporary support under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), adapt direct payments allocations for calendar year 2027, and introduce more flexible rules on advance payments in response to increased fertiliser prices linked to the Middle East crisis. The regulation amends Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 (EAFRD) and Regulation (EU) 2021/2116, creating a specific intervention type for exceptional temporary support and allowing member states greater flexibility in implementing advance payments. The Council also decided to derogate from the eight-week period for national parliaments under Article 4 of Protocol 1.
During the adoption, Slovakia requested a statement to be entered in the Council minutes, supporting the regulation and further calling for an amendment to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1173, Article 7(1). Slovakia proposed allowing member states to make advance payments without time limitation relative to the deadline for changing or cancelling an application, provided the member state has an effective management and control system including recovery mechanisms for unduly paid amounts. This additional flexibility aims to ease administrative burdens on farmers and national authorities amid the ongoing crisis.
The regulation impacts EU farmers, who will benefit from exceptional support and more flexible advance payments, potentially improving cash flow during a period of high input costs. National authorities in EU member states will need to adapt their payment systems and ensure compliance with the new rules, including the recovery mechanisms for overpayments. EU taxpayers may face increased spending from the EU budget for the exceptional support, though the measure is temporary. The agricultural sector, particularly fertiliser-intensive farming, stands to gain from the relief, while the European Commission will oversee implementation and may need to amend the implementing regulation as requested by Slovakia.
Institutional follow-up includes the publication of the regulation in the Official Journal of the EU, after which it will enter into force. The European Commission is expected to assess the need for further amendments to implementing rules, particularly regarding advance payment deadlines, as suggested by Slovakia. The European Parliament, which co-legislated on the file, will monitor the implementation and may review the measure's effectiveness in future reports.