– Our experience from the years 2023–2025 shows that the covering direct support with multi-annual programming has unnecessarily rigidified the process of programming, implementation and monitoring. Unfortunately, many current proposals do not seem to serve either transparency, efficiency or reduction of administrative burdens, and the mandatory nature of many CAP measures, as proposed by the Commission, will restrict the flexibility of programming – said Minister Krajewski in Brussels today.

During the last AGRIFISH Council meeting in Brussels this year, devoted to the regulation of next year’s fishing opportunities in the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, the subject of simplification of the CAP and the discussion on the possibilities of faster implementation of innovative solutions and new technologies aroused a lot of emotions.

The Polish position, presented by the Minister of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski, invariably highlights concerns related to proposals to include the CAP in a single fund and a single national programme encompassing various EU policies. As the Minister stressed, from the Polish perspective this approach could lead to competing for funds between various sectors, which would ultimately weaken the effectiveness of achieving the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy.

– I welcome the Commission’s proposals to strengthen measures for innovation, exchange of knowledge and support for young farmers, which will also be of great importance for introducing modern improvements. Unfortunately, these measures – unless covered by appropriately increased ring-fencing – will have to compete for funds under national and regional partnership plans. Therefore, it is necessary to provide greater flexibility in programming and in modifications of plans, so as to really simplify management of the CAP – noted Minister Krajewski.

In the Polish Minister’s opinion, ensuring a stable and smooth transition to the next programming period, particularly in the context of annual area payments and animal payments will allow for only partial approvals of the plan, which, in practice, will increase the continuity and predictability of support for farmers.

– Unfortunately, many of the Commission’s current proposals do not seem to serve either transparency, efficiency or reduction of administrative burdens. What is needed, is a comprehensive and thorough review of the legislation in order to create a stable, clear and functional legal framework. We hope that the Cypriot Presidency will carry out this process efficiently – concluded Minister Stefan Krajewski.

Critical situation on the European milk market

The Hungarian delegation presented to the Council an analysis of the situation on the market for milk and milk products. As the participants in the discussion pointed out, the problem of falling prices in this sector required detailed monitoring and readiness to respond quickly at Union level.

Minister Stefan Krajewski, who was commenting on this analysis, noted that rapid regulation was demanded by the whole area of intervention purchase:

– What we observe on the milk market, in particular in the fourth quarter of 2025, may be considered unusual, in our opinion. Selling prices of milk products are falling, which is also confirmed by quotations on world markets. Since October, this has started to translate into a reduction in the purchase prices paid to producers for milk raw material. However, I urge that we comprehensively align the intervention purchase mechanism, as the current prices are based on values from 15 years ago!

Fishing opportunities in the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea

In the debate on the joint agreement regarding two Commission projects concerning next year’s fishing opportunities in the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, the Polish position was presented by Jacek Czerniak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

– We support the establishment of fishing quotas in the Atlantic and North Sea and accompanying management measures, in line with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy. However, we are very concerned when seeing the lack of responsible approach on the part of the Coastal States in management of pelagic stocks, i.e. mackerel, Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting. There is still no agreed distribution of the total fishing quota among the Coastal States (so-called sharing arrangements) for these stocks – noted Minister Czerniak, confirming that the mackerel fishing quota remained a priority for Poland, therefore, we opted for excluding mackerel from the application of the Hague Preferences.

– The temporary fishing quota for 2026 should be determined in accordance with the recommendation of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and adopted in the Council so that EU fishermen can start fishing at the beginning of the year – proposed Minister Czerniak.

Taking into account the proposed mechanisms for the protection of common sole, the Minister noted that the prohibition on fishing in the Baltic Sea subarea was disproportionate and would not contribute to the protection of common sole. Such proposals may have the opposite effect – irreversible and economically disadvantageous for all small-scale fisheries.

– Understanding the need to protect common sole and having regard to the advice of ICES, we propose that the solutions be adequate and proportionate, and their scope be limited to the areas of occurrence of common sole, and not to waters where Polish fishermen operate, who do not catch this species even in the smallest quantities – appealed Minister Jacek Czerniak in Brussels.