– The Common Agricultural Policy means real support for farms: income stability, investments and rural development. Therefore, we are seeking clear and predictable financing rules post-2027 and solutions that will strengthen the competitiveness of farmers in the European Union – emphasised Minister Stefan Krajewski.

Financing of the CAP post-2027: clear rules and level playing field

During the meeting with the Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin, the Minister talked about the proposed rules for the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The European Commission proposed EUR 24.6 billion for Poland to support farmers’ income under the CAP in the years 2028–2034. The Minister pointed out that of crucial importance were not only the amounts themselves but also the method of their allocation and the impact of new mechanisms on the implementation of the CAP objectives and the rural development.

In particular, during the talks two mechanisms suggested in the proposed EU financial framework were discussed:

• „rural target” – a mechanism assuming an obligation to allocate a specific part of the Partnership Plan funds to measures geared towards rural development, including farm support;
• „flexibility” – an instrument allowing for early mobilisation of part of available funds in response to the Member States’ needs for agriculture and rural communities.

– We need clear rules regarding the use of these instruments. For farmers and local governments, predictability is essential – whether the funds from these mechanisms can be allocated exclusively for the purposes of the CAP or also for other development measures – stressed Minister Stefan Krajewski.

The Minister also raised the issue of national co-financing, namely, the share of national funds in the implementation of EU programmes. Poland pointed out that the lack of upper co-financing limits could lead to unequal conditions of competition in the single market, since countries with greater budgetary opportunities could offer much higher national support.

– The single market requires the same rules. Excessively large differences in the level of national co-financing may distort competition between farmers in the individual Member States – stressed the Minister.

Brazil: accelerating the procedure for Polish apples

The second meeting – with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christoph Hansen – concerned, among others, access to third country markets. The Minister indicated the importance of the Brazilian market and the need to intensify measures to grant market access for Polish apples.

Poland notes a significant deficit in agri-food trade with Brazil: EUR -1.2 billion in 2023, EUR 992.9 million in 2024 and EUR -996.1 million in the period I-XI 2025. Increasing the agri-food export to Brazil is one of the measures likely to contribute to the gradual reduction in this imbalance.

– Opening the Brazilian market to Polish apples is a real opportunity for fruit growers and an important step toward more sustainable trade. We expect the support of the European Commission in accelerating this procedure – said Minister Stefan Krajewski.

During the talks, it was reminded that the Brazilian party had announced the completion of the phytosanitary risk assessment (PRA) procedure for Polish apples and Poland expected its finalisation in 2026. At the same time, the fruit-growing industry declares its readiness to launch the export soon after the completion of the procedures.

Poland also pointed to its experience in the field of export: in 2025, we exported 5,585 tonnes of apples to Colombia and 769 tonnes to Costa Rica, which confirms the ability to comply with the phytosanitary requirements in demanding non-EU markets.

CAP and processing: the importance of SMEs for the stability of the sector

The Minister also raised the issue of support for agri-food processing, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises. It was emphasised that the processing sector played a key role in stabilising farmers’ income, building added value and security of the food chain.

– Stable agriculture requires strong processing facilities. Without them, the possibilities of selling agricultural products are limited. The future CAP should directly include support for processing, particularly in the SME segment – stressed Minister Stefan Krajewski.

The meetings of Minister Stefan Krajewski with the EU Commissioners are part of the ongoing dialogue on the future EU financial framework and the shape of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027, particularly in the context of ensuring the stability of farm income and the development of export of Polish agri-food products.