INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

A two-day meeting of the Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) of the European Committee of the Regions is underway in Brussels, chaired by Marshal Piotr Całbecki. During yesterday’s session (20 April), a draft opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2028–2034 was adopted, with the host of our kujawsko-pomorskie region acting as rapporteur.

The draft highlights the need to reform the Common Agricultural Policy towards a more sustainable, territorial, and partnership-based model that better responds to the challenges facing agriculture and rural areas. It also emphasizes the importance of linking the CAP with new national and regional partnership plans and strengthening the role of local and regional authorities in its planning and implementation.

The vote on the adoption of the draft opinion was preceded by a discussion with the participation of Gijs Schilthuis, Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission, and Iliana Ivanova, representing the European Court of Auditors.

“Our goal is to move away from a top-down, uniform model towards a policy that is more balanced and adapted to the realities of individual regions. In the opinion, we point, among other things, to the need to ensure adequate investment capacity for the CAP, to strengthen the principle of subsidiarity by introducing a new clause enabling objections to excessive centralization, as well as to ensure a fair distribution of income support. We also stress the importance of the environmental and social dimensions, the development of local food systems, and the introduction of mandatory multi-level governance and partnerships, with real participation of local and regional authorities at every stage of policy implementation, as well as the role of the Committee of the Regions as a consultative institution,” emphasized Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

The current version of the document is the result of numerous meetings held by Marshal Piotr Całbecki with representatives of farmers, agri-food producers and processors, as well as a wide range of stakeholders, and with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including Norbert Lins, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the future of the CAP, Agriculture Commissioner Christopher Hansen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto, and Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné. The opinion was developed through a supportive consultation process with the steering group on the multiannual financial framework of the Committee of the Regions.

The adoption of the draft opinion means that the Committee of the Regions contributes to the European debate and supports the European Parliament, which in its budget proposals for 2028–2034 emphasizes the need for stable CAP funding and greater involvement of regions.

The final version of the opinion will be adopted during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions scheduled for 1–2 July.

During yesterday’s meeting, in addition to the discussion and vote on the opinion prepared by Marshal Piotr Całbecki, NAT also addressed the topic of trade in agri-food products in a changing world. Today, during the second and final day of the meeting, a discussion and vote are planned on the draft opinion of the European Committee of the Regions regarding the Consumer Agenda until 2030. The body will also address the Common Fisheries Policy, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, as well as—particularly important from the perspective of our region—the issue of a generational renewal strategy in agriculture.

Regional Office in Brussels

21 April 2026