The next MFF

Euractiv first reported on Monday that the EU’s flagship farm subsidy scheme - the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - will be folded into a new overarching budget tool, “The Fund,” alongside cohesion money.

EU farming chief Christophe Hansen managed to ringfence direct payments to farmers, shielding them from being redirected to other policy areas. However, rural development funds remain exposed.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Hansen said that the fight wasn't over, with internal consultations continuing this week. “It is very important that we maintain strong support for rural areas," he said, hinting at further ringfencing for rural development.

The European Commission's draft text also reflects some of Hansen's promises  –  most notably capping subsidies at €100,000 per farm and scaling back support for large agricultural operations, amid growing pressure to ensure fairer distribution. 

The big question still hanging in the air is how deep the CAP cuts will be. Insiders told Euractiv that they expect a hit of between 10% and 20%.