The European Union's Agriculture Commissioner announced today that while reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are coming, the fundamental per-hectare aid system will continue, citing its crucial role in supporting farm investments [1].

Speaking ahead of his appearance at the Agricultural Show in Paris, the Commissioner outlined several key policy directions for European agriculture. "Supprimer l'aide à l'hectare est impossible," he stated, while emphasizing the need for better distribution of aid, particularly to young farmers [1][2].

The Commissioner highlighted concerning demographic trends in European agriculture, noting that less than 12% of farmers are under 40 years old, with an average age exceeding 57 years [3]. This aging farming population presents a significant challenge to European food sovereignty.

On environmental policies, the Commission is shifting away from rigid pesticide reduction targets, favoring a more collaborative approach with farmers. The new strategy includes faster approval for biopesticides and investment in genomic techniques (NGT) for crop resilience [2].

Regarding trade policy, the Commissioner addressed concerns about the Mercosur agreement, confirming new safeguard clauses have been included to protect sensitive agricultural sectors. He also announced plans to strengthen import standards, particularly regarding banned pesticide residues [3].

On Ukraine's potential EU membership, while noting 2030 seems "ambitious," the Commissioner emphasized that integration would require full alignment with EU agricultural standards. He suggested Ukraine could help reduce EU dependency on American and Latin American protein crops [1].