Letter from Brussels - November 2026

Last month, more than 400 farm and co-operative leaders and stakeholders from across Europe gathered in Stockholm for the European Farmers Congress organised by COPA & COGECA, the European umbrella body for farm organisations and co-operatives.
It was a timely gathering given that EU heads of government were, at the same time, meeting in Brussels to continue with the process of agreeing post-27 EU budget and, within that, the financial structure of the next Common Agricultural Policy. EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen and EU Commissioner for Environment, Jessica Roswall were in attendance along with Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. It was notable that it was the first time an EU Commissioner for Environment addressed the conference; a positive move considering the important current synergy between EU food production, water-quality targets, and tackling climate change. Working in the same, rather than opposite, directions is the only sensible way to meet binding climate targets while ensuring food security.
It is also a sign of where the future direction of EU farming is going that the three themes of the plenary debates focussed on security, competitiveness, and enlargement. All three headlines are cornerstones of a resilient, profitable and sustainable agricultural structure in uncertain geopolitical times. On security, the debate focussed on the necessity to encompass food security as part of any overall EU defence plan. And there was a roadmap laid out regarding enlargement debunking any fears that Ukraine, for example, joining the EU would create a threat to already scant supports for EU farmers.

The congress finished with the signing of the Stockholm Declaration, described by COPA & COGECA as ‘a landmark collective appeal urging Europe’s leaders to recognise the gravity of the situation and take decisive action, as European agriculture is approaching breaking point’.

The Declaration, COPA & COGECA, says calls for ‘farming to be recognised as a pillar of Europe’s security, preparedness and defence. The production of food, feed, fuel and fibre is a strategic asset, while farmers and agri-cooperatives constitute Europe’s first line of defence in preserving productive territories and ensuring a reliable and affordable food supply’. 

It was signed by Irish Farmers’ Association president, Francie Gorman and ICOS president, Edward Carr who were among the high-level delegation of farm and co-op leaders in the Swedish capital. At this late point in the Irish EU presidency, it’s doubtful that the next CAP will be signed off before year end, but worth watching the fight between those member states that want more spending and those that want cuts over the next few weeks.