Members of the European Committee of the Regions’ NAT Commission today held an agri-food debate as part of preparations for a series of opinions linked to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2027. The debate covered The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), by rapporteur Piotr Całbecki (PL/EPP) as well as The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the European Ocean Pact, and the Union’s maritime and aquaculture policy, by rapporteur Thibaut Guignard (FR/EPP)
Speakers stressed that Europe’s agri-food and fisheries ambitions must be matched by predictable financing, fair rules, and effective place-based delivery, with local and regional authorities as genuine partners.
Financing that matches needs — not cuts that undermine policy
Thibaut Guignard, (FR/EPP) Municipal Councillor of Ploeuc-l’Hermitage, warned that the Commission’s proposed funding direction would weaken the CFP and coastal communities:
“The Commission’s proposal to cut the fisheries budget by 67% is not a marginal adjustment. It risks sacrificing the Common Fisheries Policy—and with it the support our fishers, coastal communities, and coastal economies urgently need. We must secure financing that matches real needs. The current proposal is clearly insufficient, especially given stock recovery objectives and the need for synergies between financial instruments so that resources for fisheries and aquaculture are used efficiently."
He underlined the importance of combining instruments effectively and protecting key tools such as EMFAF, CLLD and support for innovation, fleet renewal, data collection and decarbonisation.
CAP must deliver predictability, not insecurity
Brídín Murphy, (IE/EPP) Councillor at Wexford County Council, called for certainty in CAP funding and governance, arguing that flexibility without guarantees creates instability:
“Flexibility without certainty becomes insecurity. Farmers cannot operate on shifting ground. If we want resilience, we must offer predictability. From a regional perspective, the role of local and regional authorities must be real, not symbolic. A regional check is welcome, but a consultative exercise will not deliver better outcomes. If regions are expected to implement CAP objectives, they must be genuine partners in design, delivery and review, with direct engagement with the European Commission.”
She highlighted the growing gap between CAP’s objectives and the lived reality of family farming, warning that fragmented and reduced payments risk undermining CAP credibility, and stressing the need to target support to active farmers and deliver urgent generational renewal.
Island realities require fairness in rules and support
Francisca Ramis Pons, (ES/EPP) Director General for Institutional Relations and Relations with the Parliament, Balearic Islands Government, brought the perspective of island territories, stressing that one-size-fits-all policies disadvantage islands and small-scale fleets:
“Our islands have historically been a haven for fishing resources: rich biodiversity, strong traditions of artisanal and local fishing, and an important role as a refuge for fish species. But island status is also a structural disadvantage, and EU support must take island specificities properly into account. Treating fundamentally different realities as if they were the same is simply not fair.”
He called for a more workable approach in the Western Mediterranean, including avoiding overlapping constraints that hit small-scale fisheries disproportionately, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, and strengthening fishers’ voice through Advisory Councils.
Place-based solutions, simplification, and local food in schools
Radim Sršeň, Mayor of Dolní Studénky, argued that rural development, food security and local value chains require more integrated, locally-led approaches and less complexity:
“A place-based approach is simply common sense. If we want to solve the problems of rural areas and the rural economy, we need to connect the different activities and value chains, rather than treating them separately. We need to simplify procedures as schemes on top of schemes are making delivery harder for communities on the ground.”
He highlighted the benefits of local food projects linking farmers to schools, emphasising their long-term educational impact and the role of local and regional actors in delivering practical solutions.
Next steps
The NAT Commission will continue its work on the upcoming opinions, with members reiterating the need for an MFF that supports food security, resilient rural economies, sustainable fisheries, and stronger local delivery across the EU.