An agreement on a common approach to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy can be delayed even further, as EU member states seek to clarify the future policy budget.

After an informal meeting of European Agriculture Ministers in Bucharest on June 4, Romanian Minister of Agriculture Petre Deya told reporters that many of the new rules are directly related to the long-term plan governing the EU budget (MFF).

“Most of the ministers said that we should take a certain position regarding the general approach when we see the amounts stipulated for the CAP,” the minister said.

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said that tactically and strategically, many Member States want to know the contents of the MFF before they reach policy conclusions. “Time will tell if this is the right decision,” the European Commissioner concluded.

However, the future CAP budget was in jeopardy because Gunther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, demanded a reduction in farm spending, pointing to a 12 billion euro hole in EU finances that Britain would create.

According to the EU budget plans for 2021-2027, farmers will receive about 232 billion euros in direct support, which is 30 billion euros less than the current seven-year budget. Member States do not intend to conclude the discussion of the EU budget by October.

Although European Union Chief Agricultural Officer Phil Hogan insists that an agreement on ATS can be reached by the end of next year, EU officials and MEPs are less confident.