# European agricultural succession and policy crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-agricultural-succession-and-policy-crisis > Updated: 2026-09-18T14:01:15.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. Europe is experiencing a systemic agricultural crisis driven by a lack of generational renewal and concerns over policy direction. In France, NGOs have warned that current support policies for farm transfers are insufficient, noting that half of the nation’s 400,000 farmers are expected to reach retirement age by 2030. This wave of retirements, coupled with high entry costs and difficult working conditions, threatens long-term food production targets. As the European Parliament negotiates rules for the 2028–2034 Common Agricultural Policy, agricultural organizations are increasing pressure on EU leadership. Groups such as Unión de Uniones and the Unión de Campesinos de Castilla y León have expressed concern that recent political discourse fails to address the needs identified during previous agricultural mobilizations. These organizations are advocating for specific commitments to address low profitability, excessive bureaucracy, and unfair competition from imports. They are also seeking to ensure that agriculture remains a priority amidst potential budget cuts proposed by certain member states. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: European agricultural groups raise concerns over EU policy direction European agricultural groups express concern that the EU's recent policy discourse ignores critical issues like profitability and generational renewal following the 2024 farming protests. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-agricultural-groups-raise-concerns-over-eu-policy-direction ### 2026-09-15: Europe faces agricultural crisis amid farmer retirement wave Europe faces an agricultural crisis as aging farmers retire without successors. While France struggles with farm transfers and low wages, the EU is debating subsidy rules to support generational renewal. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/agricultural-succession-crisis-impacts-france-and-spain --- Cite as: European agricultural succession and policy crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-agricultural-succession-and-policy-crisis