Estonian farmers protest EU's plan to cut agricultural funding

TALLINN - Kerli Ats, chair of the management board of the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce, and Ene Kärner, head of the organization's representation in Brussels, took part in a protest in Brussels on Wednesday expressing strong dissatisfaction with the European Commission's proposal for the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF), which includes a nearly 30 percent cut to common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies compared to the current period.

"Food production is not a cost but a strategic investment in Europe's future and security. Unfortunately, the Commission's proposal no longer reflects that," Ats said. "Reducing support and dismantling the CAP's current two-pillar structure would leave Estonian and other EU farmers facing a more unstable and less predictable support system."

The Commission has proposed reducing the CAP budget in real terms from 387 billion to 300 billion euros in 2025 prices, and merging it into a new single partnership fund that also includes regional, fisheries, and rural development funding. This would end CAP's status as an independent, unified policy and shift more control to national governments.

Ats said that food production has grown more expensive each year due to rising input costs, the war in Ukraine, new free trade deals, consumer demand for affordability, and increasingly ambitious environmental and climate regulations.

"These expectations are not unreasonable, but they cannot be met without a strong and independent support mechanism. We need more, not less, funding to ensure the sustainability of food production, be it for climate adaptation or animal welfare. A 30 percent cut is excessive and puts European producers in a very difficult position. Farmers cannot accept this message," she said.

The Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce calls on the Estonian government and members of the European Parliament to take an active stand to ensure the EU's food production capacity, sustainability, and economic viability are preserved.

"Europe needs a strong and independent CAP, not just one part of a patchwork of funding instruments, but a well-designed, strategic policy," Ats added.