Belgian minister rejects CAP proposal as misaligned with national interests

On July 18, 2025, the European Commission unveiled a budget proposal for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has received criticism from multiple member states, including Belgium and France. The proposal allocates a multiannual budget of 300 billion euros for income support, accounting for 80 percent of the current CAP budget. Additionally, member states have the option to inject further funding into agriculture through their national and regional partnership plans, amounting to a total of 865 billion euros. Anne Pirson, a Member of Parliament from Belgium, expressed concerns that the proposal may favor industrial agriculture over family farms, a sentiment echoed by Belgian Minister of Agriculture David Clarinval. He criticized the proposed merging of the agricultural budget with other European funds, the risk of transfers between envelopes, and inadequate consultation regarding the climate objectives outlined in the proposal. Clarinval emphasized the urgency of addressing these concerns with his finance colleagues as negotiations are expected to continue until 2027. Similarly, French Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard lamented the CAP proposal, highlighting the need for a more ambitious approach to support agriculture amidst global challenges, including climate change and geopolitical instability. The French minister argued that the time is critical to unite and bolster Europe’s food sovereignty, as negotiations for the agricultural policy will be ongoing for several months following the announcement.