COPA-COGECA

🇪🇺🇮🇪 Ahead of the meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Dublin, Copa-Cogeca stands firmly alongside the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) in support of its mobilisation.
As negotiations on the next EU budget (MFF 2028–2034) and the future CAP enter a decisive phase under the Irish Presidency of the Council, the proposed cuts of more than 20% to the CAP budget, exceeding 30% when inflation is taken into account, would deal an unbearable blow to farmers and agricultural cooperatives across Europe.
European farmers and agricultural cooperatives will remain mobilised 🍀✊

🤝European Cooperatives are reunited in Almería for Cogeca’s Business Forum at the invitation of @CoopsAgroES 🇪🇸
Cogeca's Vice-President, Christian Høegh-Andersen opened this Forum stressing that scaling up agri-cooperatives is not just business development, it is essential for Europe's strategic autonomy, food security and long-term resilience!

Fulgencio Torres Moral, President of @CoopsAgroAND recalls the weight of Andalusian agri-coops with over 600 co-ops turning over 12.6 billion€.

Delivering the keynote address, @EduardoBaamond1 stresses that food and technology are strategic pillars for Europe's future. We must strengthen common EU policies to back both territorial family farms and productive, market-oriented enterprises!

🗳️Vote in Working Party Cotton elected new Chair Mr. Martinez ( @CoopsAgroES 🇪🇸).

The EU cotton sector is Europe's largest producer of natural fibres, supporting farmers, jobs and economic activity in rural areas while meeting high sustainability standards.

☁️"In a context of rising costs, climate challenges and increasing market uncertainty, the CMO reform offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen sectoral organisation, improve the competitiveness of cotton producers and secure a sustainable future for the sector."

🗳️@COPACOGECA's Working Party on Flax & Hemp had elections. Congratulations to Chair Bertrand Gomart (@FNSEA 🇫🇷) and Vice-Chair Jacopo Paolini, (@Confagricoltura 🇮🇹).

Flax and hemp are among Europe's most sustainable and versatile crops, supplying sectors as diverse as textiles, construction, furniture, food and feed.

🗨️"In the face of climate volatility and growing production challenges, we must ensure that farmers have the tools to remain competitive. The ongoing CMO reform will be key to preserving coupled support for flax and industrial hemp, strengthening investment in research and innovation, and supporting adaptation to climate change.
We also see a clear need to promote a whole-plant approach for hemp, enabling the full and sustainable valorisation of all legally cultivated plant parts and supporting the continued growth of the sector."

Copa-Cogeca and IFA meet 🇮🇪 Prime Minister, Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD and urge @Ireland2026eu to stand firm on the defence of CAP and its budget at a critical stage in negotiations.

As EU leaders move closer to defining a common landing zone for the 2028–2034 MFF, the farming organisations stressed that their fundamental concerns remain unresolved. A proposed cut of more than 20% to the CAP budget, exceeding 30% when inflation is taken into account, combined with the erosion of the policy's common character, would be simply unbearable for many farms and agricultural cooperatives across the EU. Beyond its consequences for the sector, such a decision would represent a major setback for the European project and a historic strategic mistake at a time when other major global powers are moving in precisely the opposite direction, strengthening their strategic sectors rather than weakening them.

European farming organisations remain fully mobilised and will continue to make their voices heard until a final agreement is reached, ensuring that the message conveyed to the Taoiseach today is also brought to the attention of EU Heads of State and Government at the upcoming European Council meetings.

Read Full Statement >>>>> copa-cogeca.eu/press-releases