Brussels – The EU Commission is set to allocate €162 million – €50 million more than originally planned – for the EU’s agri-food promotion activities in 2027. This was stated by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, during a hearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, as he announced the Commission’s decision to increase the budget initially envisaged. The 2027 annual work programme will therefore include “€92 million for single programmes; €60 million for multiple programmes; and €10 million for own initiatives aimed at promoting the diversification of export markets.” “In a context characterised by multiple urgent priorities, this sends a clear signal: the Commission continues to regard the promotion of the EU’s agri-food sector as a key priority,” Hansen emphasised.
Support for the announcement, albeit with reservations, came from MEPs from Forza Italia (EPP), Salvatore De Meo, and from the Democratic Party (S&D), Camilla Laureti. “We welcome the signal from the European Commission regarding the resources allocated to the promotion of agri-food products, following the prospect of a drastic reduction in funding raised in recent months,” notes De Meo, who believes that the decision taken by the Berlaymont building represents “a step in the right direction, but it is not enough.” The Forza Italia MEP notes that “negotiations on the 2027 budget are still ongoing and concrete guarantees are needed regarding the final allocation.” In the current climate, “we cannot afford to weaken a fundamental tool for the competitiveness of our businesses and the promotion of European agri-food excellence,” he emphasises.
Laureti, vice-chair of the S&D Group and the PD’s spokesperson on agricultural policy, notes that with regard to promotion, there is “a great deal to be done, particularly at this very moment when farmers are protesting” in European cities. “There has indeed been an effort to increase funding by €50 million, but the funds are less than those we had in 2026. Between 2005 and 2024, 40 per cent of farms closed down, confirming that the difficulty lies not only in production but also in selling – and at a fair price – because farmers’ incomes are the most pressing issue,” observes the PD member.
Hansen does not share this view, having specified that “the 162 million allocated for the 2027 promotional work programme is in line with the 2026 budget.” The fact that the budget was higher last year – at 205 million – is due to the fact that “it included an exceptional allocation of 35 million for the food campaign, which will actually take place next year, in 2027.” Therefore, according to the Commissioner, “the difference does not reflect a reduction in the Commission’s commitment to promotion, but rather an exceptional investment made in 2026 for activities that will take place in 2027.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
