At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 June 2026, the Cyprus presidency presented its achievements, including legislative progress on the Common Market Organisation, reproductive material regulation, and the chemicals omnibus, as well as a Council mandate on CAP strategic plans to improve farmers' access to fertilisers. EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen highlighted the fertiliser action plan and a €540 million exceptional support package for farmers, with €56 million already allocated from the agricultural reserve for climate-affected farmers in Portugal, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, and Slovenia.
The debate on the future CAP after 2027 focused on balancing flexibility for member states with common EU objectives. Minister María Panayiotou stressed the need for a simpler, less burdensome CAP that recognises national specificities while maintaining a level playing field. Commissioner Hansen pushed back against making too many elements voluntary, warning that this could undermine the CAP's common nature. This tension between national flexibility and EU-wide harmonisation is a recurring theme in CAP reform discussions.
On market developments, the wine sector faces structural challenges, while dairy and beef remain resilient. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka joined discussions, and Hansen noted Ukraine's role in the upcoming EU protein plan. The Spanish minister criticised the fertiliser action plan for lacking direct EU financial support, but Hansen defended the reallocation of CAP funds as already agricultural spending. The presidency will pass to Ireland.
EU farmers face uncertainty over future CAP design, with potential for either more tailored national support or stronger common rules. Food processors may benefit from stable dairy and beef markets but face challenges in the wine sector. Rural communities could see changes in funding flows depending on the final CAP structure. Ukraine's involvement in the protein plan signals deeper integration into EU agricultural markets, offering opportunities for Ukrainian producers but also competition for EU farmers.