A 16 July 2025, the Commission presented the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal for the period 2028 a 2034, worth nearly 2 billion euros, representing a growth of around 65% in light of the latest QFP, and corresponding to 1.26% of the EU’s average gross national income. A CONSULT provides a simple and direct summary of what this proposal (or what is known of it at this stage) changes, or may end up changing, in the Common Agricultural Policy, and what impacts can be foreseen for Portugal.

The Essentials of the New Multiannual Financial Framework

• New architecture: Member State-managed funds are to be integrated into a single instrument — National and Regional Partnership Plans — bringing together Cohesion, the European Social Fund and Agriculture into a single strategy.
• According to the Commission, the PAC remains “at the centre” of these plans, with simpler rules, lighter controls and more agile payments, but, in fact, the CAP, which represented about 30% of the Community budget (and Cohesion an identical weight), will now be integrated into a single Fund (Cohesion, CAP and others) representing about 45% (that is, overall they go from about 60% of the Community budget to 45%).
• New priorities which impact agriculture: European Competitiveness Fund (clean industry, bioeconomy, agritech) and strengthening crisis preparedness.

CAP numbers in the proposal

• €865 billion for the Partnership Plans (which include agriculture, but also cohesion and others).
• €300m “ring-fenced” (reserved term) to support farmers' income.
• Safety Net (“Unity Safety Net”): €900m/year to respond to sectoral crises. In addition, an agricultural reserve is maintained to stabilise markets when necessary.
• Convergence per hectare: introduces minimum and maximum values per ha to make payments more uniform between countries (an evolution of “external convergence”).

How Does Portugal Stand Given the Known Information?

• National “partnership” envelope: Portugal emerges with €33.5 billion (at current prices) for the Partnership Plan 2028–2034 as a whole, of which €31.6 billion general cake (where agriculture is), €0.9 billion for migration/security and €0.9 billion to the Social Climate Fund.
• Bones direct payments there will be rules of min/max per ha what they can favour countries below the average — where Portugal is situated.
• There is an effective reduction in annual CAP support for Portugal, as the annual average drops from €1.22 billion (2023–27) to €1.06 billion (2028–34), which represents a a loss of around 13% in nominal terms, exacerbated by projected inflation.

CAP Design Changes of Interest to Portugal

• A “start-up package” is created for Young Farmers, which includes installation support, investment top-ups, young farmer income support and advice.
• Risk management measures, with reinforcement and clear eligibility of insurance and sectoral instruments.
• Supports connected retained for sectors with specific difficulties.
• Investment and transitionfocus on water resilience, soil fertility and health, renewable energy in farming, digitalisation and rapid diffusion of innovation (national AKIS).
• O LEADER continue with a focus on rural areas.
• Administrative simplification single rules for the CAP and more linear payments in the Partnership Plans.

Future Discussion Points with Impact for the Sector in Portugal

• Independence of agricultural funds within the overall Community budget.
• Quantification of the PAC envelope within the Partnership Plan.
• External convergence EUR/ha: pinpoint where the proposed ceiling sits vs. the Portuguese national average, in order to assess gains/losses.
• Backup / Safety Net: chow to act quickly in cases of droughts, fires or market problems — key to our peripheral and Mediterranean (and Atlantic) location.
• Synergies with the new Competitiveness Fund and with Horizon Europe for technological scaling (bioeconomy, agro-digital, smart mechanisation).
• Update to support values: We have seen a reduction in real terms in support for the agricultural sector (due to inflation), estimated at 20% to 30% since 2021, in constant prices. It is a fundamental debate.
• Partnership Plan Governance: ensure the voice of the sector and transparency.

The 2028-2034 CAP reform brings simplification, but also demanding choices. The challenge has been laid down and requires dialogue, transparency and strategic decision-making capacity. CONSULAI is here to help uncomplicate the message, support producers and organisations in navigating this new framework, and propose improvements that strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the country's entire agricultural and rural sector.