Six Walloon agricultural unions have voiced their concerns and anger over potential cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget post-2027, a sentiment acknowledged by the Walloon government during the Libramont Agricultural Fair’s opening.
In a joint statement in front of a significant assembly of Walloon and federal ministers, the FWA (Walloon Federation of Agriculture), Fugea, FJA (Federation of Young Farmers), UAW (Union of Walloon Farmers), Unab (Union of Organic Farmers), and the Bauernbund (German-speaking farmers) reiterated their disapproval of recent European Commission proposals.
The European Commission has suggested a €300 billion package for farmer income support and crisis management from 2028 to 2034, representing 80% of the current CAP budget for 2023-2027. This has sparked fears of reduced aid for farmers, despite member states having the option to tap into other funds to support the sector. There are also concerns that increased flexibility for member states could lead to “renationalisation” of the CAP and heightened competition among European farmers.
“These announcements are disastrous for the agricultural world, both in Europe and Wallonia,” said Philippe Duvivier from Fugea. He insisted that their demands were clear: a strong CAP budget to ensure fair prices and support farmers through transitions. “Nothing, absolutely nothing the Commission proposed last week in budgetary terms meets these goals,” he added.
Florian Poncelet of the FJA noted that “doing more with less” has never been feasible and emphasised the challenge of generational renewal, with the average age of Walloon farmers being 58.
Daniel Coulonval of the FWA highlighted the unity among the unions, stating, “Last week we were in Brussels; today we are in Libramont. We will stay united until we receive concrete assurances, ensuring our sector gets the budget and attention it deserves. Only a strong CAP will build a viable, sustainable, and profitable agriculture for future generations.”
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The agricultural unions’ message appears to have been heard. “Our message is clear: you are not alone; the Walloon government stands with you,” responded Minister-President Adrien Dolimont.
Minister-President Dolimont, who attended Libramont with his children, dubbed it “the heart of the agricultural world,” and defended the family farming model, describing it as “a pillar of our Wallonia” and a promise for the future, supporting landscapes, villages, families, and food sovereignty.
Walloon Agriculture Minister Anne-Catherine Dalcq expressed understanding and shared the farmers’ anger, pledging to fight “at all levels” for a robust CAP that meets needs. “A Europe without a strong agricultural policy is fragile against crises, shortages, and speculation,” she added.
At the federal level, Minister for the Self-Employed Eléonore Simonet stated that the CAP “cannot become a budget or environmental adjustment variable.”
Attending the Libramont Fair for the first time, representing her colleague David Clarinval, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Simonet highlighted federal efforts to bolster the social status of the self-employed and simplify administrative processes.
