What has Poland agreed to? Over 700 thousand households without support guarantees

The EU Council has changed the wording in the ONW payment regulations from "shall" to "may," making support for farmers optional. This shift raises concerns about the future of agricultural subsidies, as funding will now compete with other national priorities. Farmers may face uncertainty regarding their financial support, as it will depend on member states' decisions. Additionally, similar changes apply to support for small farms, which may also become voluntary. While this does not eliminate subsidies after 2027, it weakens the guarantees for these forms of support, pending negotiations with the European Parliament.