The European Commission has presented the proposal for the European Union’s multiannual budget for the 2028–2034 period, with an explicit focus on competitiveness, economic resilience, and the strengthening of strategic sectors. Within the architecture of this package, agriculture and rural areas are treated as economic infrastructure of common interest: production, food security, jobs, and social stability across territories.

In the agricultural area, the allocation for farmers is estimated at €293.7 billion, with the political direction aiming to make payments and support instruments easier to access and more predictable. The technical message is clear: the Union is seeking to reduce delays and to create a more efficient link between compliance obligations and actual liquidity on farms, where cash-flow pressure remains the greatest vulnerability.

For rural development, the budget package provides an allocation of €48.7 billion, with the possibility of extending it up to €63.7 billion through EU-level loan and guarantee mechanisms. At the same time, a rule is being discussed to direct a minimum of 10% of the resources of national and regional plans toward investments in rural areas, which could translate into positive pressure for local infrastructure projects, modernization, processing, and services.

A relevant element for Romania is the possibility of faster access to funds from the very first years of the budgetary period, ahead of the mid-cycle review. In a context of high interest rates and market volatility, such a mechanism can reduce the need for bridge financing and accelerate the implementation of investments in farms and rural communities.

(Photo: Freepik)