The CAP post-2027

– Currently, the discussion is entering a decisive phase – in October 2026, the Irish Presidency wants to lead to a partial general agreement on the CAP rules. That is why our region now has an opportunity to send a clear, common signal – what direction of future decisions we expect in this matter – stressed Deputy Minister Nowak.

The Undersecretary of State stressed that the CAP had to remain a strong, genuinely common and consolidated EU policy, based on common objectives and clear principles. Poland sees no room for reducing the budget allocated to the CAP under the future Multiannual Financial Framework.

– The future CAP must be free from excessive bureaucracy and unrealistic burdens. We endorse the voluntary implementation of farm transformation plans at the Member State level and the complete exemption of small farms from the requirements of responsible farm management. Only a simple, flexible and securely financed policy will allow European agriculture to survive and develop in the coming decades – said the head of the Polish delegation.

Deputy Minister Nowak also referred to specific instruments that should be included in the new CAP and pointed to the need to maintain the support for the production of tobacco and sugar beet.

Crisis management in agriculture

The Undersecretary of State informed that what was required in that context was the ensuring of the economic stability of farms, protection of the internal market and enforcement of the principle of reciprocity in international trade.

– Poland has consistently argued that the national budget should not bear the consequences of global climate change on its own. We demand a regular increase and faster mobilisation of the EU agricultural reserve so as to compensate for market collapses and sudden declines in agricultural income in regions affected by weather anomalies – emphasised the Deputy Minister. He also indicated that improving the effectiveness of mechanisms to stabilise the situation on agricultural markets also required updating the levels of intervention prices so as to take into account the effect of inflation and the new market realities.

Combating unfair trade practices

The session was also an opportunity to exchange views on strengthening combating unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain.

– If the provisions of law are to be enforced better, there must be uniform rules for all Member States. EU legislation should ensure the protection of suppliers regardless of their turnover. We cannot accept a two-speed Europe in the agricultural and food supply chain. The single market requires common rules. If the European Union is able to introduce uniform standards for the protection of consumers or the environment, it must defend EU agricultural producers against corporate dictates in an equally consequent and uniform manner – urged Deputy Minister Nowak.

The Ministers of Agriculture of the enlarged Visegrad Group agreed that the list of blacklisted, prohibited trade practices should be expanded and strictly enforced in each Member State.

– In Poland’s opinion, the act of forcing farmers to sell agricultural products below the costs of their production should be considered an unfair trade practice – highlighted Undersecretary of State Adam Nowak.

Signing of three declarations

The session ended with the signing of three strategic joint declarations of the countries of the enlarged Visegrad Group:

• on the future Common Agricultural Policy post-2027;
• on the need for taking effective measures at the European level in response to natural disasters and market disturbances affecting agriculture;
• on strengthening combating unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain.

– The declarations signed in Bratislava contain a number of important demands of the V4+ countries and will be submitted to the Irish Presidency as a common voice of the countries of our region, which should be included in the discussion at the EU forum – announced the Undersecretary of State.

The session of the enlarged Visegrad Group was held in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, which currently chairs the work of the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary). The talks took place at an important moment for the European Union, when the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 and the Multiannual Financial Framework is underway and the situation on agricultural markets is unstable.