Greek MEP Galato Alexandraki (ECR) has asked the European Commission how it plans to ensure that small and fragmented farms can effectively access risk management tools under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), warning that current rules may de facto benefit only larger holdings. The question, submitted on 22 April 2026, targets a potential gap between policy design and on-the-ground reality for the EU's smallest producers.
Alexandraki's written question cites a World Bank study presented by the Commission on 25 March 2026, which found that the EU lacks a coherent approach to agricultural risk management and that small farms face high costs, limited options, and complex procedures. She notes that in her home country Greece, there are around 600,000 farms with an average size of seven hectares, over 70% of which are smaller than five hectares, and more than 70% of agricultural land is in areas with natural constraints such as insularity, aridity, and steep slopes.
The MEP raises three concrete demands: first, how the Commission will ensure effective access to risk management tools for small and fragmented farms; second, whether it is considering specific increased support for small contracts and cooperative structures; and third, whether it will require earmarking for island, mountain, and other areas with natural constraints. The question focuses on Article 76 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, which sets out the current risk management toolkit under the CAP.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up
Alexandraki's question signals a push for greater EU-level intervention to correct what she sees as a structural bias in the CAP's risk management provisions. By asking for earmarking and targeted support, she advocates for a more redistributive approach that prioritises smallholders and farmers in disadvantaged regions. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it shares the MEP's concerns and is willing to adjust implementation guidelines or propose legislative changes.
The question touches on a cleavage between farm size and access to EU support, pitting the interests of small, fragmented farms against those of larger, more commercially oriented holdings. If the Commission signals openness to earmarking or enhanced support for cooperatives, it could benefit small farmers in Greece and similar Mediterranean regions, but may also increase administrative complexity and costs for national paying agencies. Conversely, maintaining the status quo risks leaving smallholders without effective risk coverage, potentially accelerating farm consolidation.