Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, expressed his support for the priorities of the Irish presidency during the first EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the semester. He stressed that the main objective will be to conclude, before the end of the year, the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will determine the resources allocated to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for the 2028–2034 period. “The Irish presidency will be key to ensuring the success of the CAP negotiations,” he stated, insisting that only with “solid resources” can the economic viability of farmers and fishers be guaranteed.
Planas argued that both policies must have “sufficient and stable” funding and their own legal personality, a demand Spain shares with around twenty Member States. He confirmed that Spain will support Ireland in completing this work and advancing towards a CAP that is “simpler and easier to apply on the ground,” a long‑standing request from the sector.
The minister highlighted two essential elements for safeguarding the sector’s profitability: market monitoring—especially after the recent closure of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which could lead to higher oil and gas prices—and the action plan on fertilizers. He recalled that Spain has presented its National Fertilizer Plan, focused on reducing use through precision agriculture, strengthening strategic autonomy, and improving market transparency. He also noted that Spain has mobilized €665 million in aid for fertilizer purchases, more than the European Commission has allocated for the entire EU, calling for “greater ambition” at the European level.
Luis Planas at the EU Agriculture Council / MAPA photo
Planas welcomed the presentation of the European Livestock Strategy and the European Protein Plan, two initiatives he considers essential for reinforcing strategic autonomy in a context marked by geopolitical uncertainty and volatile international markets. He stressed that both plans must be built on a clear foundation: ensuring the profitability of farmers and livestock producers, a central pillar for food security and territorial balance.
In the debate on agriculture and women, promoted by Ireland, the minister recalled that Spain was the first EU Member State to incorporate gender perspective as a specific and binding objective in its CAP Strategic Plan. He argued that the post‑2028 CAP must consolidate this approach and strengthen interventions aimed at rural women, with measures that promote entrepreneurship and facilitate access to leadership and decision‑making roles.
Fisheries: stability, modernisation and generational renewal
Spain also supports Ireland’s priorities in fisheries, particularly the negotiations on fishing opportunities for 2027, where Planas called for a balance between environmental, economic and social sustainability. He stressed the importance of moving towards multiannual quotas, which provide the fleet with greater predictability and stability than annual allocations.
The minister expressed confidence that the reform of the Mediterranean fisheries regulation—a long‑standing demand of Spain, France and Italy—will be completed before the end of the year. He also backed the Council setting its position this semester on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, with special attention to generational renewal and the need for the new financial framework to include support for fleet modernisation and renewal, an essential condition for attracting new generations and securing the sector’s future.
