EU agriculture ministers agree partial position on post-2027 CAP reform in Luxembourg

What the ministers agreed

EU agriculture ministers reached a first agreement on the regulation that sets the architecture of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027. The Council, meeting in Luxembourg on 26 October 2026, adopted the position unanimously after a long afternoon of discussion. The text keeps the general approach of the European Commission's proposal but adds changes that give member states more room to apply the shared objectives. The agreement is described as partial because it does not address the financial and horizontal questions of the policy. Those issues remain in the wider negotiations on the 2028-2034 long-term EU budget, of which the CAP forms a part.

One structure, two former pillars

The Council confirms the Commission's plan to combine the CAP's two current pillars, direct aid and rural development support, into a single architecture. Under that structure, both flows will feed into new national and regional partnership plans. The proposal guarantees just over 300 billion euros for income support and crisis measures, and member states may top this up with extra resources. The final amount available to farmers, however, depends on the overall deal on the next multiannual budget. Member states are also asking for more national freedom, including that the Commission's recommendations on how to shape support should not be binding.

Income support and the active farmer definition

The agreement moves income support toward active farmers through a new degressive, area-based scheme. Member states will be able to add a redistributive mechanism similar to the current complementary redistributive income support for sustainability. A common definition of 'active farmer' becomes mandatory for member states, which keep flexibility to adapt it to national conditions. The rule aims to ensure that certain funds reach only people who actually farm, not those holding land for investment. Under the position, member states would not be required to cut direct payments for farmers who receive an old-age pension.

Generational renewal and risk management

The text strengthens measures for generational renewal, with higher support for young farmers made mandatory. It also provides aid to help young farmers start their activities. Member states must define a generational renewal strategy and a dedicated start-up package. On risk management, countries may pay crisis compensation to farmers hit by natural disasters, extreme weather events, animal diseases and plant diseases.

Next steps

The Council position will serve as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final version of the regulation. The final amount for farmers depends on the 2028-2034 budget deal, which is still under negotiation. The unresolved budget questions include the size of the budget itself and the limit on area-based income support for individual farms. The text will now go to the European Parliament for negotiation before any final regulation is in place.