EU budget for recovery : Increased funding to support EU farmers and fishermen towards a green transition/economy

In its proposal for a reinforced long-term budget, the Commission will increase the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) by €9 billion (€4 billion for the CAP’s European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and €5 billion for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by €500 million. An additional €15 billion will be made available for rural development under Next Generation EU to further support rural areas who have a vital role to play in delivering the green transition and meeting Europe’s ambitious climate and environmental targets. In a press conference held yesterday, Commissioner Wojciechowski said: “The Commission’s proposal recognizes the strategic importance of our farming sector and the continuous support that the EU wants to provide to our farmers and rural economy. It will help to better support farmers to deliver the green and digital transition.” Commissioner Sinkevičius said: “This additional funding aims to strengthen the resilience of the fisheries sector and provide the necessary scope for crisis management in the future. Achieving sustainable fisheries is an investment in the resilience of the sector and in the future of our fishermen and women and the generations that will follow them.” A Q&A with more information on the Commission’s proposal for the CAP and the EMFF is available online.