The European Parliament elections are fast approaching, and agrifood policies have taken the spotlight following a wave of protests and demonstrations across the EU in recent months. One common concern expressed by farmers across the bloc is the level of bureaucracy within the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The current CAP, covering 2023 to 2027, saw a significant push towards greener policies, with a strong focus on environmental requirements, specifically, increased environmental conditionality. However, following the protests, the European Commission has made proposals to appeal to farmers, with many of these proposals focusing on environmental matters.

‘Good agricultural and environmental conditions’ (GAEC) have been relaxed to ease the administrative burden on farmers, providing Member States with more flexibility in policy implementation. Furthermore, some policies on this mandate’s agenda have been scrapped, such as the pesticide regulation (SUR).

Striking a balance between the needs of farmers and sustainability remains a significant challenge that will likely define the next Commission mandate.

As various political parties release their election manifestos, they are including action plans on agrifood policy for the years ahead.

Listen to this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss the new legislative agenda for 2024 to 2029 and what changes are foreseen for the agrifood sector.

Questions to be discussed include:

- What proposals have been made, adapted, or withdrawn so far?
- What will the priorities be for the agrifood sector in the new Commission mandate, particularly for CAP?
- How will the outcome of the elections impact future agrifood policies?
- How will policymakers strike a balance between sustainability and the needs of farmers?

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.