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EU leaders urge protection of agriculture and cohesion funds
A group of 17 European Union member states, coordinated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Romanian President Nicușor Dan, has issued a joint letter to the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU. The group, known as the ‘Friends of Cohesion’, is urging the preservation of funding for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion policy in the upcoming 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
The leaders argue that these policies are essential for strengthening the single market, supporting rural and less developed regions, and ensuring food security. They warn that the European Commission’s current proposal already includes real-term reductions for these sectors. While the group acknowledges the need for increased investment in new priorities such as security, defense, competitiveness, and energy resilience, they insist these should be funded through additional resources rather than by redirecting funds away from agriculture and regional support.
This initiative stands in opposition to a group of six countries—including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Finland—which have called for significant cuts to the nearly 2 trillion euro proposed budget to prioritize military and innovation spending.
Entities
Common Agricultural Policy · Council of the European Union · European Commission · European Union · Friends of Cohesion · Giorgia Meloni · Ireland · Micheál Martin · Nicușor Dan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] The leaders sent a letter to the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. www.jornaldenegocios.pt · eco.sapo.pt · sapo.pt · economedia.ro · www.teleborsa.it · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Seventeen EU leaders have appealed to preserve the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion funds in the next EU budget. www.jornaldenegocios.pt · eco.sapo.pt · sapo.pt · economedia.ro · www.teleborsa.it · +8 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Further cuts to these funds could weaken public support for the European project. www.jornaldenegocios.pt · eco.sapo.pt · sapo.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt
- [● 7 SOURCES] The proposed EU budget for the 2028-2034 period already includes reductions for cohesion and agricultural policies. www.jornaldenegocios.pt · eco.sapo.pt · sapo.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · ruse.news · +2 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The 17 signatory countries include Spain, Italy, Poland, and Bulgaria. www.moncloa.com · www.vesti.bg · www.money.ro · spotmedia.ro · www.upday.com · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The 17 countries demand that funding for the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion policy be preserved in the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework www.moncloa.com · www.rt.com · www.upday.com · www.vesti.bg · www.money.ro · +8 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Irish presidency of the Council must present a negotiation proposal known as the 'combo box' soon www.moncloa.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The EU budget requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states. www.rt.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] The German-led group of six countries wants to cut the EU budget by hundreds of billions of euros. www.rt.com · www.upday.com · www.vesti.bg · spotmedia.ro · ruse.news
- [● 4 SOURCES] The six countries propose redirecting funds from agriculture and regional support toward defense, competitiveness, and innovation. www.rt.com · www.upday.com · www.vesti.bg
- [● 13 SOURCES] The 'Friends of Cohesion' group is coordinated by Giorgia Meloni and Nicușor Dan. www.moncloa.com · www.money.ro · spotmedia.ro · www.upday.com · www.vesti.bg · +7 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The European Commission proposed a budget of nearly 2 trillion euros for 2028–2034. www.rt.com · spotmedia.ro · www.vesti.bg · economedia.ro · ruse.news · +1 more