Executive Vice-President Fitto

I would like to start by explaining the structure and objectives of the National and Regional Partnership Plans. I will be short focusing on some key elements.

The architecture of the National and Regional Plans is designed to allocate funding in a way that: more flexible, so it can adapt quickly to emerging priorities and local needs; more efficient and simplified, to avoid delays, reduce bureaucracy, and improve delivery; more strategic to meet all the expectations of our citizens.

The plan puts together different existing funds: CAP and RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, ERDF, COHESION FUND, Just Transition Fund, ESF, Fisheries, HOME.

The total financing of the National and Regional Plans will be about 865 billion euros over the 2028-34 period.

Of this amount, we have two preallocated founds: at least  296 billion euros will be ringfenced for income support of farmers and fishermen; 34 billion euros  for migration and border management; and around 450 billion euros will be for cohesion, rural development and fishing communities, which is broadly equivalent to that provided in the current MFF.

Of this amount,  218 billion euros will be allocated for the less developed regions of Europe, which is similar to what they are receiving in the 2021-27 period from the ERDF/ESF Plus: the National and Regional Plans implementation will be based on the achievement of milestones and targets.

They will include both investments and reforms to respond effectively to the challenges faced by the Member States.

The plans will be implemented in partnership between the Commission and national and regional authorities, involving stakeholders at all levels, as it is the case today in shared management.

They will follow a multi-level governance approach and include national, sectoral, regional and territorial chapters, reflecting the national set up in each Member State. This is in see Article 21 of the regulation

 Now turning more specifically to cohesion, the plans will deliver in a significant way to the cohesion objectives.

First, economic, social and territorial cohesion is a general objective of the entire Fund that will finance the National and Regional Partnership Plan. This is in perfct line with the treaty.

There is also a clear legal requirement for the plan to allocate resources to the three categories of regions we have today – less developed, regions in transition and more developed regions

When the Member states present the plans,  must specify exactly how much they have allocated to these categories of regions, as well as to other specific regions, such : the Outermost regions, the northern sparsely populated areas of Finland and Sweden, the islands, cities/urban areas, rural areas,and Eastern Border regions.

As I mentioned earlier, a minimum allocation of 218 billion euros is guaranteed for less developed regions, equivalent to the level of support they receive in 2021-27 under ERDF/ESF.

This is a proposal from the European Commission. It is not the final step, but a starting point.

We will reach the finish line together—with the Parliament and the Council—working for the prosperity of Europe and all its regions, rural and urban areas, cities and islands.

We need, as I said before, more flexibility and I would like to give an eaxmple, just yesterday we closed the trilogue together with the Parliament and Council and we achieved an agreement on MTR regulation this will make the current cohesion programms more flexible to respond to new challenges.

Thank you.

Executive Vice-Presidents Mînzatu

Thank you, Commissioner Fitto.

I will now address the main social and education and training elements maintained in the next budget.

European internal security + competitiveness – supported by social and education and training.

Funding for social spending in the budget of the next MFF has been secured and protected with:

At least 100 billion euros in the National and Regional Partnerships – and,

An additional 50 billion euros will be contributed from the European Social Climate Fund. The European Social Fund will have a dedicated regulation.

With in the National and Regional Partnerships, a minimum of 14 % must be dedicated to social spending - after excluding the agriculture dimension in line with the European Social Fund and performance regulation.

Overall, this amounts to a minimum of 100 billion euros (an increase compared to the current ESF of 96 billion euros):

Social investments are mainstreamed within the National Regional Partnerships providing for a comprehensive list of actions for Member States to invest in people.

The Social Climate Fund, based on assigned revenues is outside of the MFF envelope - would amount for 50 billion euros.

In addition, the National and Regional Partnerships will also mainstream 216 billion euros for regions that are less developed, focusing on those people and regions most in need.

For first time, social spending will be tracked across the entire MFF.

Within the European Competitiveness Fund – commitments focused on: skills guarantee, vocational and educational training.

A point also on the crisis mechanism – which is to be used for all types of hazard including a permanent SURE mechanism.

The future Erasmus+ will be strengthened both in terms of money from 26 to 40.8 billion euros and in term of ambition.

Think Erasmus for All, Erasmus as a right.

It will continue to be the flagship program that it is today – however, the future Erasmus program will be more inclusive, funding learning opportunities for people of all ages and all backgrounds, seeking to be even more open and accessible than before.

All its key components will be strengthened, mobility, youth and sport - and will be hope to the continuation of the European Solidarity Corps that will benefit from the increased flexibility of the new integrated Erasmus fund.

The new integrated fund – AgoraEU, will cover the previous programs under Creative Europe (and Media), CERV (and Daphne).

The new AgoraEU will double the finance up to 8.6 billion euros compared to the individual envelopes of the current funds

The AgoraEU programme will include: a Creative Europe - Culture strand, a Media+ strand and a Democracy, Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV+) strand bringing together culture, media, equality, citizenship and values under a single unifying umbrella — reinforcing the EUs commitment to democracy, creativity and participation. 

I support these plans for the next MFF – that puts people at the heart of the future of Europe.

Thank you, and now handover to my colleague Commissioner Hansen.

Commissioner Hansen

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for being here today. I know that this is a long day also for you.

Over the past months, I had the privilege to travel across our Union — from small family farms to larger cooperative holdings, from vineyards to dairy farms. This diversity is the strength of our farming sector.

I listened to farmers who get up before dawn every single day, who worry about their harvest, about the health of their animals, and about how they can keep their farms alive for the next generation. As a son and brother of farmer, I know the uncertainty that is part of their daily life.

The package we are presenting today fully recognizes their essential role– not only as food producers, but also as stewards of our landscapes, keepers of our traditions, and a vital force in our rural communities.

First and foremost, the CAP will continue to be a cornerstone of EU funding. It will be simpler, more targeted, and more impactful — while keeping the essential support that our farmers rely on.

Farmers need predictability — and with this CAP, they will have it.

We have secured a robust budget of at least 300 billion euros for income support and crisis management — fully ringfenced for our farmers. And let me be clear, the ringfenced amount is a minimum number. Member States will invest their bigger envelope, based on their needs and planning in the different policy areas covered by the National and Regional Plans.

It is also important to underline that income support is now defined in a broader sense than direct income support, incorporating not only area-based payments but also all other compensation and payments to farmers, such as agri-environmental actions, investments, support for young farmers and more. The CAP toolbox remains full!

For farmers, it means one thing: their income and their support is safeguarded and they can plan and invest with greater confidence.

We have also ensured that inflation will not erode the value of this support. With a new adjustment method, farmers will be better shielded against the unpredictable swings in prices.

About the CAP, my approach was clear all along: no revolution, but evolution. We aim for a common policy that is simpler, and more modern, yet maintaining all familiar tools.

We propose merging the two existing CAP funds into one coherent set of instruments, eliminating overlaps and creating one policy — one set of measures — for farmers and rural development alike.

We continue area-based payments and degressivity and capping will ensure that this support is better targeted, particularly benefiting young, small, and family-sized farms.

We are also strengthening coupled income support, increasing the maximum spending from 13% to 20%, with an additional 5% possible for sectors and regions that need it most, such as livestock farming and sensitive border areas.

Incentives are at the heart of this new policy. I heard so many farmers say they want to do more for the environment, but they need fair recognition and support. We are moving away from complex, prescriptive requirements toward a system that rewards farmers for their extra efforts for protecting soil, water, biodiversity, and animal welfare. We merge eco-schemes and agri-environmental measures into a single agri-environmental actions intervention, co-financed by Member States.

A new category of transition payments, offering a lump sum of up to €200,000 will support farms undertaking ambitious transition plans. This will help de-risk innovation and transformation in our agricultural sector.

We are also prioritising generational renewal. A starter pack, including higher per-hectare support and setup aid, will make it easier for young people to enter farming. And I will present a strategy for young farmers in Autumn building on our action.

Rural innovation and entrepreneurship are reinforced. All well-known measures remain. Agriculture will continue to benefit from the Horizon Framework Programme and European Competitiveness Fund. And we recognize, for the first time, the importance of mental health and work-life balance for farmers, introducing support for farm relief services during sickness, childbirth, or holidays.

On crisis management, we are introducing the new Unity Safety Net for crisis measures, with a total capacity of 6.3 billion euros — effectively doubling the current agricultural reserve. This reinforced support will help safeguard our farmers in times of market disturbances and growing geopolitical uncertainties.

Finally, alongside the CAP legislative proposal, we are also proposing a review of our Common Market Organisation Regulation. With it, we want to stimulate the development of the plant protein sector and strengthen protections for meat denominations and country of origin labelling. We are also laying the legal foundation for ensuring that products from the EU are prioritized in school schemes — measures that support our strategic autonomy and our farmers livelihoods in these tense times.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This package is a strong message: Europe stands by its farmers. We are securing income, creating incentives for sustainability, fostering innovation, and empowering the next generation. We are making our agricultural policy simpler, fairer, and fit for the future.

Thank you.