The Upper Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LK) warns of a “fundamental system change with serious risks for rural agriculture in Austria,” referring to the reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. As reported, the EU Commission presented a proposal in July for the next period, which begins in 2028. The entire EU budget is to be increased by 64 percent to 2,000 billion euros. The agricultural budget is expected to fall from the current 378 to around 300 billion euros. “This cut is being made against all previous promises,” said Franz Waldenberger, President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, at a press conference on Monday.
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The chamber’s criticism relates, on the one hand, to the planned cuts and, on the other hand, to a planned structural reform. The Commission proposes to bring together several previously independent policy areas, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), cohesion policy and measures in the areas of security and migration, into a common fund. This fund will be managed through a National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP). Unlike before, the CAP will no longer be a separate fund in the future. “The previous structure, which was based on direct payments and payments for rural development, should be dissolved,” said Waldenberger. In the future, agricultural budgets will be negotiated within the framework of this NRPP, together with other policy areas. There is a risk of a distribution battle over the funds that are not earmarked for their intended purpose. “The Öpul agri-environmental program will no longer exist in its current form,” says Waldenberger, who also criticized the fact that the EU Commission is seizing powers. Farmer representatives are not included enough. There is a risk of a clear weakening of the agricultural sector.
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Image: LK
Source: Nachrichten
