EU Agriculture Council discusses CAP flexibility and olive oil support

During the EU Agriculture Council in Brussels, ministers discussed the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework. Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas advocated for a flexible CAP that adapts to the specific realities of member states while maintaining its common character. He emphasized the need for sufficient resources for direct aid, rural development, and irrigation to address challenges such as drought, and called for measures to ensure affordable fertilizer prices.

Regarding the olive oil sector, European Commissioner Christophe Hansen addressed a request from Italian Minister Francesco Lollobrigida to use the EU agricultural reserve for emergency funding. Hansen stated that the reserve for the current year is already exhausted, meaning any potential support would have to be evaluated for the next season based on concrete data provided by member states. Additionally, while Minister Lollobrigida suggested reviewing zero-tariff import quotas for olive oil from third countries, Hansen noted that such a proposal was not formally raised during the Council meeting.