Italy and nine other countries join forces to oppose cuts to EU agri-food promotion

Brussels – Ten European Union countries have joined forces to call on the European Commission not to cut funding for the promotion of agri-food products in 2027. The initiative, spearheaded by Italy and backed by the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain, was presented to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Agrifish) and urges Brussels to review the guidelines for next year’s work programme.

At the heart of the request is the planned cut in funding for the Simple and Multi promotion programmes, which, according to the Commission’s proposal, would fall from €160 million in 2026 to €112 million in 2027. In the joint document, the ten Member States acknowledge the objectives set by the European Commission, but consider that the resources allocated “do not appear to be consistent with these ambitions.”

According to the signatories, a reduction in funding would risk undermining the capacity of the EU’s promotion policy to support market diversification, strengthen operators’ resilience, and support the agri-food sector in a context characterised by growing volatility, geopolitical instability, and intense competitive pressure. For this reason, they call on the Commission to “give further consideration to the financial allocations planned for 2027,” while preserving “the effectiveness and ambition of the Union’s promotion policy.”

Italy spearheaded the initiative. The Minister for Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, explained that the Italian strategy is based on three pillars: “Production, protection, and promotion.” On the first front, he highlighted the need for “simple and effective rules” and for investment in research and innovation; on the second, he defended the system of geographical indications: “It is not a form of protectionism, but of protection,” because it allows quality and supply chains to be promoted without competing solely on price. However, it was on promotion that the minister placed the greatest emphasis: “If you don’t tell people about them, your products can be as good as you like, but you won’t sell them—that’s the truth. And so envisaging cuts to the promotion of the European system is suicidal.”

Lollobrigida then emphasised Italy’s role in building consensus among Member States: “Nations with a strong export-oriented economy, particularly in the agri-food sector, such as Italy, were bound to lead the way in a joint effort by European countries to assert their right to promotion.” A position which, he concluded, had garnered “the support of the majority of European nations,” confirming a broad coalition in defence of the European policy on agri-food promotion.