The European Commission’s proposal to be made public this week would radically transform the agricultural support system, eliminating area-based support for larger farms and favoring smaller, young, and family farmers, according to a leaked report obtained by Agrarsektor, whose editor-in-chief was invited onto Portfolio’s Checklist broadcast.
“The material is stricter than any proposal so far: Area-based support would essentially cease above 450 hectares, but would begin to decrease gradually and significantly at around 90 hectares,” Lajos Braunmüller said.
After the news broke, figures from the Hungarian government, including Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, took to social media to express their shock.
“Brussels would be putting farmers and consumers at risk with an irresponsible step. The previously leaked information about the European Commission’s budget proposal for the 2028-2034 period, which also includes the rules on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), is outrageous and disheartening,” Agriculture Minister István Nagy posted.
“They’ve caught the farmers off guard. The situation is serious. Details coming soon!” Orbán wrote on his Facebook page.
The president of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), Zsolt Papp, was more direct, telling MTI that “the European Commission’s new package of proposals could destroy Hungarian agriculture” and warning the leaked EU plans could represent a turning point in the future of agriculture.
Papp further detailed that the measures would put Hungary’s processing industry at risk, endanger consumers, and allow products of dubious origin to be placed on families’ tables.
