EU farm policy after 2027: what Poland expects to change in payments and budget
A Polish Agriculture Ministry official outlined how the EU Common Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034 might look. The budget and rules are not final, but the general direction of payments is emerging.
The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will keep income support, investment aid, eco-schemes and agri-environmental measures after 2027, but their names, rules and funding levels may change. This was explained at a webinar organised by AgroHorti Media by Dr Bogdan Pomianek of Poland's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MRiRW), who discussed the European Commission's proposals for 2028–2034. He stressed that these are so far proposals, not final decisions.
The budget remains unclear
The European Commission has proposed €123.3 billion for Poland's entire national and regional partnership plan, of which €24.6 billion is earmarked for CAP income support. Funds for investment and measures currently under the CAP's second pillar must be counted separately. Poland's Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy proposes keeping agricultural funding at about €32.8 billion, while the agriculture ministry is seeking €37 billion and at least €9 billion for rural development. The final split has not been decided.
One plan and new names
Support from the CAP, cohesion policy and fisheries policy is to be combined in a single national and regional partnership plan. Greater responsibility for planning and distributing funds will fall on member states. The draft regulation no longer uses the term "direct payments"; it speaks of income payments, including degressive area support. Member states will be able to vary rates, and Poland is considering higher support for family or smaller farms. The EU average rate in the draft is €90–240 per hectare, but this is not the rate for Poland.
It is still unknown whether degressivity and caps on payments to the largest farms will be mandatory; the EU Council favours making them voluntary.
Young farmers and timetable
The draft EU rules would allow different forms of aid for a young farmer to be combined up to €300,000. This is a ceiling, not a promised premium. Currently in Poland the young farmer premium can reach PLN 200,000, or PLN 300,000 for livestock production.
First drafts of plan chapters could appear in December, formal consultations are planned for March–May, and negotiations with the Commission from September. The aim is to agree the document in 2027 and begin implementation on 1 January 2028.
