Organised by the Copa-Cogeca association, demonstrators voiced concerns that consolidating agricultural and other EU budgets into a single, flexible framework would reduce financial predictability and threaten support for rural and environmental schemes.
Farmers also criticised proposals potentially redirecting agricultural funds towards defence or Ukraine’s reconstruction, warning this might endanger Europe’s food security.
Andrej Gajdoš, head of Slovakia’s Agricultural and Food Chamber, argues that a robust, independent EU agricultural budget is necessary to safeguard struggling farmers.