European Parliament greenlights GSP deal, but fails to secure adequate rice safeguards

Yesterday marked the end of almost 5 years of negotiations. The European Parliament approved the revision of the GSP, thereby confirming the provisional agreement reached during trilogue in December 2025. Copa and Cogeca express deep disappointment as the agreement is adopted with an automatic safeguard mechanism for rice that, while presented as a protective tool against disruptive imports from GSP countries, risks proving insufficient to effectively shield European production.

Joint statement on the Middle East crisis and the need for urgent EU actions to safeguard a resilient EU agri-food chain

The Middle East conflict is disrupting EU agri-food chains: input costs, energy, logistics are soaring, threatening yields, production, supply continuity and food affordability for European consumers. Farmers, cooperatives and food operators need priority access to key inputs and energy at competitive rates. A united request of strong urgent EU action by all the agriculture food chain.

EUDR Simplification: Time to address EU primary producers and industries’ concerns

From agriculture, livestock, forest, forest-based industries and feed to vegetable oil and protein meal, many sectors call on EU institutions and Member States to take the necessary time to address their persistent concerns over the EU Deforestation Regulation. While well-intentioned, the EUDR risks undermining the competitiveness, resilience and autonomy of important European sectors if its implementation is not carefully reviewed and simplified.

CRCF methodologies: progress acknowledged, further adjustments needed to ensure uptake

At the Expert Group on Carbon Removals on 23 April, the European Commission presented advancements in developing certification methodologies for carbon farming under Regulation (EU) 2024/3012. As the delegated act nears finalisation, with legislative approval expected this summer, Copa and Cogeca acknowledge several improvements that better reflect with the operational realities of farmers, forest managers and agri-cooperatives.

With agriculture under historic pressure, Europe must act now, not watch the crisis deepen

Copa and Cogeca leaders met in Brussels over the past two days at a critical time for European agriculture. Following exchanges with the European Commission, DG AGRI Director-General Pierre Bascou, and the President of the American Farm Bureau, Zippy Duvall, European farming organisations took key decisions on major issues, from the mounting pressures hitting the sector to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Surging East Asian rice exports: many countries act, the EU cannot afford to wait

Rice-producing countries around the world are raising concerns over increasing pressure on their domestic sectors, highlighting a growing global challenge that is also significantly affecting Europe. There is therefore an urgent need for the European Union to move forward with safeguard mechanisms to ensure the survival of a historic sector in several Member States.

Council adoption: New Genomic Techniques Regulation on its way to the final stage

Copa and Cogeca welcome the Council of the European Union’s adoption of the Trilogue consensus on NGTs Regulation. At Council of the European Union level, this marks the conclusion of over a decade of debate, confirming a science-based and proportionate approach that aligns with the European Commission's proposal. Copa and Cogeca now urge the European Parliament to swiftly endorse the Trilogue agreement, to ensure timely entry into force. Keeping in mind that the development of new plant varieties typically takes 8 to 10 years, it is essential to provide regulatory certainty in order to deliver innovation and tangible benefits to farmers without delay.

EU Deforestation Regulation must work for farmers, forest owners and their cooperatives, more is needed to ensure practical implementation

With concrete proposals, COPA COGECA,CEPF,ELO, FECOF, Union of European Foresters and Union of Foresters of Southern Europe call for:

🌳Allowing sufficient time for implementation, carefully considering start of the entry into application, combined with further targeted simplification in the Regulation.

🌲Ensuring proportionality and simplification for micro and small operators, for them to not be required to submit the simplified declaration and that Member States will ensure to link their national systems and enhancing their interoperability with the EUDR information system.

🪵Extending the simplified regime to all primary producers, irrespective of size, where existing EU and national databases and legislation already provide a solid basis for traceability.

Horizon Europe 2028-2034: Keep Agriculture and Bioeconomy as Europe’s Research and Innovation Priorities

As the work in the European Parliament on Horizon Europe 2028-2034 progresses, a coalition of more than 20 organisations dedicated to advancing innovation in Europe’s agriculture and bioeconomy sectors published a joint statement, with a simple and key message to MEPs: Maintain Agriculture and Bioeconomy as priorities for Research and Innovation contributing to Europe’s food security, sustainability and growth across the EU.

Bad streak continues for European agriculture: Commission grants new tariff concessions to Australia in sensitive sectors

The early morning announcement of the conclusion of the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement in Canberra by European Commission President von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Albanese raises multiple and strong concerns for European agriculture, which is clearly and once again the bargaining chip of the EU strategy to secure broader trade and political objectives. A vision that responds to the emergencies of the moment, but whose medium-term consequences will be unsustainable for many sensitive farming sectors.

EU–Australia FTA: agriculture cannot afford to pay the price of a new political deal

As discussions intensify around the possible conclusion of the EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement, serious concerns remain regarding the balance and fairness of the outcome - particularly on the agriculture chapter.

Without rapid corrective measures, rice production has no future in Europe.

European rice producers and the wider supply chain are raising serious concerns about the growing imbalance affecting the sector. European rice farming has entered a phase of serious crisis. Recent market developments highlight increasing pressure on European rice farming, driven by rising production costs, strict regulatory requirements and a significant increase in imports entering the EU market.

European farming communities demand urgent action ahead of the EU Fertiliser Action Plan

Ahead of the long-awaited Fertiliser Action Plan, Copa and Cogeca have released a comprehensive position paper outlining concrete EU-level measures to address the fertiliser crisis and ensure long-term market stability. The sector’s message is clear: the EU has the tools to act, and decisive measures are urgently needed to safeguard farm viability and Europe’s food security in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical context.