IATP Europe submitted the following comments on November 3, 2025 to the European Commission regarding the National and Regional Partnership Plans element of the EU’s next long-term budget.
Establishing financing for transition action plans in the agri-food system as part of the next budget is a welcome development. However, in order to ensure a fair and just transition for Europe’s farmers, rural communities, and the broader agri-food sector away from industrial livestock production and towards food production in line with nature, further elaboration is needed in the National and Regional Partnership (NRP) Plans (COM(2025) 565) as well as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Regulation (COM(2025) 560).
Specifically, we make the following three recommendations:
1. Strengthen the specific objectives that the Fund seeks to accomplish regarding a just transition for the agri-food sector
To meet the EU’s climate and methane pollution reduction targets as well as improve the bloc’s air and water quality, treatment of its farm animals, and those living next to factory farms, the EU needs to transition away from industrial livestock production towards raising farm animals in numbers nature can support.
Such a transition will entail significant changes, not only for farmers but for rural communities and workers throughout the agri-food system.
The Fund’s specific objective of supporting a just transition is too narrowly focused on the energy sector and does not reflect the breadth of those who will be affected as part of achieving the EU’s net zero GHG emission goals.
The EU’s commitment to a fair and just transition to climate neutrality should include farmers and the agri-food sector.
2. Expand and elaborate on the scope of agri-food transition activities covered
A fair transition to animal farming within nature’s limits will not take place overnight — not least of which because it takes time to establish alternative markets, supply chains, and infrastructure that will allow farmers to earn a fair living by growing more fruits, vegetables or legumes (from diversified systems), shifting to agroforestry, or even growing sustainable construction material on rewetted peatlands.
The requirement for Member States to provide funding for voluntary transition plans is most welcome, though the scope should extend beyond the extensification of livestock production systems and include diversification into other agricultural, agroforestry or non-agricultural activities.
While farmers are at the center of the transition away from industrial livestock production, workers in the agri-food sector — especially in meat processing — will also be affected as well as rural communities. Provisions should be provided for in both the NRP Plan and CAP regulations.
3. Dedicated financing for the transition away from industrial livestock production
Diversifying production away from industrial livestock production will require significant investment and a substantial commitment by farmers, both of which should be matched by a societal commitment to provide financial support.
While financial resources to support transition activities are included in funds earmarked for the CAP, the co-financing rules and other spending priorities may put the level of support available for the transition at risk.
The public’s money should support activities that benefit society. Spending these public resources wisely and coherently to support farmers as they help society fight climate change and make their farms more resilient to its devasting impacts is key. The proposals for capping and degressivity of area-based payments should be retained and strengthened, with a goal to ultimately phase out these payments altogether.
Beyond the NRP and CAP plans, strengthening the Unfair Trading Practices Directive will help ensure farmers are fairly paid for their products and thus are better positioned financially to support the transition to more sustainable, organic, and agroecological farming practices.
The next long-term budget period, covering the period from 2028-2034, comes at a critical time for making the transition to climate-friendly farming a reality. By supporting farmers, workers throughout the agri-food chain, and rural communities, a fair and just transition is possible.
