The presentation of proposals on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must not coincide with European Union's long-term budget.

That is the view of the chair of European Parliament Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (AGRI) Veronika Vrecionova who has written to the European Commission to outline her concerns.

The letter, which has been supported by large majority of political groups in the committee, states that the legislative proposals on the future CAP should follow rather than be presented at the same time as the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The letter notes that a report is being finalised by the AGRI Committee on the future of EU agriculture, which will provide the commission “with a valuable indication of the political direction and priorities likely to emerge in the legislative process”.

“It is therefore important that this reflection is concluded and duly considered before the formal launch of new legislative proposals," Vrecionova said.

Given the ongoing work of the EU Parliament on areas such as the reform of the Common Market Organisation, and the CAP simplification package, “a full CAP reform at this stage would stretch both institutional and stakeholder capacity," the AGRI Committee chair warned.

The sequence of publishing the MFF first, and sectoral proposals later in the past “has helped ensure both coherence and accountability," Vrecionova added.

She also said that future CAP proposals must be of a high legal quality and internal consistency and follow an inclusive consultation process with member states, farmers, and stakeholders.

The presentation of the next MFF is expected in July 2025, according to the commission college agenda.