# EU agriculture commissioner worries as countries water down subsidy rules

> EU member states want many farm-subsidy rules made voluntary and the European Commission limited to an advisory role, while the agriculture commissioner says he is concerned about the lowered ambition.

Politics · published 2026-10-27 13:37 · https://nlnow.nl/a/eu-countries-want-control-over-how-farm-subsidies-are-shared/

EU member states have settled their position on a major reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP, Gemeenschappelijk Landbouwbeleid), through which the EU supports farming. They want more say over how subsidies are distributed among farmers, with many measures voluntary and the Commission advising rather than steering.

The Commission's proposal for the new CAP, tabled last year, is meant to apply from 2028 to 2034. It already merges funds, including those for agriculture and poorer regions, into a 'national pot' that member states may largely spend as they choose.

The Commission's proposal for the new CAP, tabled last year, is meant to apply from 2028 to 2034. It already merges funds, including those for agriculture and poorer regions, into a 'national pot' that member states may largely spend as they choose.

Member states now also want more freedom to shape the funding conditions for farmers, such as the environmental requirements they must meet and the exemptions from them.

EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen said on Monday evening that he is concerned about the increased flexibility and lowered ambition. He pointed out that support for organic farming, climate adaptation and insurance becomes voluntary rather than mandatory. At a debate last month, he asked: "If we go for voluntariness, what is left of the common character of this policy?"

## Background

- **GLB (Gemeenschappelijk Landbouwbeleid)**: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the European Union's shared policy for farming and rural areas. It sets common rules for farmers in all EU member states and provides EU funding, mainly in the form of direct income payments to farmers and support for rural development. In the Netherlands, GLB rules and payments shape how Dutch farms receive their subsidies, so changes to the policy affect farmers here directly.

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