28
Apr
2026
Watch
Interim report on the proposal for the multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034 (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! As rapporteur for the common agricultural policy, I would like to thank the co-rapporteurs for including the calls from the Committee on Agriculture for a budget of 433 billion for the next EU budget. For farmers in Europe, it is about planning security. A strong EU budget is a clear foundation for sustainable agriculture in the European Union, and I am delighted that this has been achieved across political groups. But it is also important to me that we give a signal with regard to the future architecture of this budget. For the common agricultural policy, this means continuing the successful structure of the first and second pillars, because rural development is an essential and fundamental part of the future viability of European rural areas, and for this we need a well-equipped budget. We are not playing city against country, the mayors against the farmers, but we are making Europe more cohesive.