EU Council agrees position on the common market organisation for agricultural products

The Council approved its partial negotiating position on a set of updated rules for the common organisation of agricultural markets (CMO) within the framework of the negotiations on the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF), the EU’s long-term budget.

The CMO sets out the single market framework for agricultural products across the EU, and the revised regulation would update the EU’s rules for agricultural markets across a number of areas.The negotiating position is 'partial' because it does not cover financial and horizontal issues. These are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the overall MFF covering the period 2028 to 2034.

Under the proposed framework for the EU’s next long-term budget, existing EU funds, including common agricultural policy (CAP) support, would be pooled together into a new national and regional partnership fund (NRPF). Under the future NRPF, each member state would prepare one single comprehensive plan replacing the current separate plans and programmes for cohesion, agriculture, fisheries, migration and security and the social climate fund.

Under the new arrangements, funding for measures currently covered by the CMO regulation would be governed by the NRPF regulation.

The Council’s position maintains the thrust of the Commission’s proposal and aims to modernise and strengthen the CMO and to adapt it to this new framework, while also introducing targeted updates across several agricultural sectors.

Protein crops

A separate protein crop and oilseed sector would be established, replacing the current dried fodder sector. Member states would be encouraged to recognise producer organisations in that new sector for the purposes of the sectoral interventions.

The aim is to boost domestic production, reduce dependence on imports of protein crops, and to enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy in the sector.

Marketing standards

The Council position provides for the possibility of introducing marketing standards for protein crops, beef, pigmeat, sheep meat, goatmeat and rice, so that consumers are better informed about the origin of the products they buy.