EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 23.1.2026
COM(2026) 17 final
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
on the implementation of Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy
{SWD(2026) 8 final}
I.INTRODUCTION
This report concerns the implementation of information measures relating to the common agricultural policy (CAP) for 2023 and 2024, under Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy 1 (hereinafter 'the Regulation').
Article 46(1) first subparagraph of the Regulation states that information measures financed "shall aim, in particular, to help explain, implement and develop the CAP and to raise public awareness of its content and objectives, including its interaction with the climate, the environment and animal welfare. This is done to inform citizens about the challenges faced in agriculture and food, to inform farmers and consumers, to restore consumer confidence following crises through information campaigns, to inform other parties active in rural areas and to promote a more sustainable Union model of agriculture, as well as to help citizens understand it.”
Information measures financed fall into two main categories:
-those submitted by third party organisations for co-financing under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund - EAGF (through grants);
-those at the initiative of the Commission and financed at a rate of 100% under the EAGF (direct actions/public procurement).
Article 46(2) last subparagraph states that these measures "shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the Union’s political priorities in so far as those priorities are related to the general objectives of this Regulation".
According to Article 46(5) of the Regulation, a report on the implementation of the information measures under the Regulation shall be presented to the European Parliament and the Council every two years. This is the eleventh such report 2 .
II.Context
During the reference period, the public debate on EU agriculture was shaped by geopolitical tensions, natural disasters and farmers’ protests. The Commission’s communication efforts of Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) focused on raising awareness of and building support around the contribution of the EU agriculture to a more sustainable and resilient Europe, as well as its importance for the European economy as a whole and for rural communities in particular.
2023 saw the first year of implementation of the CAP 2023-2027. In that period, the Commission communicated on the new CAP, its objectives, and its new delivery model with the implementation of the CAP Strategic Plans starting in 2023 while recalling the CAP’s central role in ensuring food security. Substantial efforts went into providing the necessary support to Member States to ensure that the new CAP is timely implemented in all Member States so that farmers can continue benefiting from CAP support.
In 2024, a Strategic Dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU was launched, with a view to further engaging with farmers, stakeholders in the food chain and citizens. The Commission supported the work of the Dialogue and promoted the visibility of its final report, submitted later in the year.
With the European elections taking place in June 2024, the Commission contributed to the wider Commission effort to convey compelling strong and relatable messages on why Europe matters to Europeans. In particular, DG AGRI focused on the role of farmers in ensuring food security and food production to all Europeans.
In the reference period, DG AGRI continued to contribute to the Commission’s corporate communication actions.
III.BUDGET
The budget made available for information measures under budget line 08 02 06 03, originally foreseen in the financing decision 3 , was EUR 10.51 million in 2023 (including contribution to Osaka World expo and contribution to corporate IT tools) and EUR 12.69 million in 2024 (including contribution to corporate IT tools and frontloading for grants 2025). In addition, EUR 11.185 million in 2023 and EUR 20.570 million in 2024 were contributed for the Commission's corporate campaigns.
The breakdown of the budget earmarked between public procurement (actions taken at the initiative of the Commission) and grants (co-financed actions) was as follows:
2023: public procurement (EUR 4.51 million) (53%) – Grants (EUR 4 million) (47%) – Contribution to Osaka World expo (EUR 2 million)
2024: public procurement (EUR 8.15 million) (64.20%) – Grants (EUR 4.54 million) (35.80%) 4
Execution of the 2023 measures reached 99.99% in terms of commitments (including contribution to Osaka World expo), and 91.80% in terms of payments of committed amounts.
Execution of the 2024 measures reached 100% in terms of commitments; the figures for payments on 2024 measures were not yet finalised at the time of drafting this report as payments could still be made until 31 December 2025 or even later.
IV.BREAKDOWN OF ACTIONS FINANCED
1)Grants (co-financed information measures taken at the initiative of third party organisations)
Article 46 (information measures) of the Regulation envisages two types of measures to be funded through grants, annual work programmes or other specific measures presented by third parties. Specific information measures refer to information events limited in time and space and implemented on the basis of a single budget. The activities included can range from conferences to a comprehensive information campaign covering several types of information activities such as audiovisual productions, reels, podcasts, press articles (traditional or online), digital media communication including social media posts, organising seminars and conferences or attending agri-food fairs, carried out in various regions and/or Member States.
The call for proposals for 2023 grants 5 , which ran from 8 November 2022 to 5 January 2023, focused on large-scale information and communication measures addressing misperceptions and disinformation about European agriculture and the CAP, with a specific view on how the Farm to Fork strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy and the Organic Action Plan can address relevant issues for agriculture and rural areas, including the move to a more sustainable agriculture with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects. More specifically, the 2023 call for proposals recalled how the Farm to Fork Strategy would enable the transition to a more sustainable EU food system that safeguards food security, reduces the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system and strengthens its resilience, protecting citizens' health and ensuring the livelihoods of economic operators, helping reaching the targets set out in the European Green Deal. The 2023 call for proposals also recalled how the Biodiversity Strategy promotes the uptake of agro-ecological practices and seeks to increase agricultural land dedicated to organic farming. The 2023 call for proposals referred to the Action Plan for the development of organic production, which aims to boost organic products production and consumption.
The 2024 call for proposals 6 was opened for applications from 17 October 2023 to 9 January 2024. The projects of information measures were to illustrate how the CAP (including the national CAP strategic plans) would contribute towards the delivery of the Commission’s political priorities, in particular ensuring a stable supply of affordable food, tackling climate change, promoting the sustainable management of natural resources, encouraging the highest standards of animal welfare and supporting the rural economy. A specific attention to a sustainable food production system, ensuring food security and long-term resilience of EU agriculture was expected including, inter alia, a focus on support to young farmers, improvement of gender balance, encouragement of generational renewal or increase of the participation of women in farming.
Applications were assessed in the light of the eligibility, exclusion, selection and award criteria as laid down in the calls for proposals. Since the 2024 call, external experts are appointed in the frame of the evaluation process. This was in line with the Financial Regulation and reflected the Commission's aim to achieve equal treatment and fair competition amongst applicants 7 . During the reference period, a total of 45 actions were co-financed, all at a rate of 60% of the eligible costs actually incurred, plus a flat-rate contribution of 7% of the eligible costs. In particular:
·23 projects have been awarded a grant for implementing information measures on the CAP under the 2023 call;
·22 projects have been awarded under the 2024 call 8 .
In the 2023-2024 period, grants were awarded to media, consultancies, communications agencies or other organisations for measures promoting awareness of the importance of agriculture and the rural areas for society as a whole; these included actions with a trans-national element carried out by organisations active in different Member States. The projects illustrated how the CAP contributed towards the delivery of the Union’s political priorities, and addressed the sustainability of agriculture, in all its dimensions. Often, these actions included pedagogical elements and awareness raising events on food and farming, the role of EU support and the importance of generational renewal for the sector or the role of women in farming.
Support was also given to actions at national level led by producers’ associations or entities with strong links to the agricultural sector; these projects focused on the current and future challenges facing EU agriculture and rural areas and, among others, the promotion of sustainability. Also, at national level inter alia several projects focussed on the future opportunities for young farmers.
Frequently, grant awarded projects included an educational component targeting school children, teachers and university students. These actions were designed to engage with young people, raise their awareness of the CAP and its contribution in many areas such as climate change, food security, and the promotion of healthy diets as a lifestyle choice.
The Commission Staff Working Document accompanying this report gives detailed information on the grants awarded during the reporting period, including the number of successful applications per Member State.
In the 2023-2024 period, it is important to emphasise that a considerable number of co-financed actions reached a wider audience beyond the direct participants, due to the multiplier effect of the specialised press and media, as well as of the massive use of digital and social media as dissemination tools.
2)Direct actions/public procurement (information measures taken at the initiative of the Commission)
In 2023-2024, as in the past, an important number of information measures were carried out at the initiative of the Commission.
More information on direct actions is to be found in the Commission Staff Working Document accompanying this report.
Media
Supporting the media with timely relevant information on the current and future CAP and rural development policy continued to feature strongly in this period. The platform Agri-Press aimed at journalists interested in agriculture issues was further enhanced.
In 2023, the Agri-Press network acquired 67 new members (8% increase, well beyond the 5% target). The total membership amounts to 1 278 by 31 December 2023. In the course of 2023, the following Agri-Press events were organised:
-seminar on Fertilisers, food affordability and market measures, combined with a field trip to Flanders, Belgium, 27-29 March 2023. All participants (100%) gave positive feedback to the event. In terms of media output, at least 1 article from 57% of participants was collected;
-press trip to Skåne, Sweden, 14-16 June 2023. The topics were Fertilisers, and economic and environmental sustainability in Swedish agriculture. Almost all participants (93%) gave positive feedback to the event via a post-event survey. In terms of media output, at least 1 article from 80% of participants was collected, exceeding the 70% target;
-press trip to Aragόn, Spain, 23-25 November 2023. The topics were Sustainability and innovation in Spanish agriculture. As a follow-up to this activity, 73% of participating journalists wrote at least one article on specialised press, exceeding the 70% target. All (100%) journalists participating gave positive feedback via a post-event survey.
On 31 December 2024 the total number of members was 793 as 81 new members have joined the platform after the migration on 22 April 2024. That is an 11% increase in the membership in 8 months. On the occasion of the migration of the Agri-Press network to a revamped web platform hosted on Europa, non-active members 9 were removed, after a series of warnings. This accounts for the reduction in the overall number of members between 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024.
In 2024, the following events were organised:
-press trip Greece: diversity of agriculture and EU response to natural disasters affecting farms, Thessaly, 22 – 24 April 2024. All respondents gave positive feedback to the event. In terms of media output, at least 1 article from 95% of participants was collected;
-seminar and field trip State of play of agriculture ahead of the European elections - How the CAP can address challenges of farmers, Belgium, 27 – 29 May 2024. All respondents gave positive feedback to the event. In terms of media output, at least 1 article from 56% of participants was collected;
-seminar and field trip Climate mitigation through agricultural practices and the role of producer organisations in strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain in Hungary, 8 – 10 October 2024. As a follow-up, 41% of participating journalists wrote at least one article while all the respondents gave positive feedback.
Website
The website remains an important source of specialist information on agriculture and rural development being updated on a regular basis. The reporting period saw important changes to the Commission's web presence, designed to make it more user-friendly and relevant for the general public.
The website agriculture.ec.europa.eu displays a much more dynamic content ranging from videos, media galleries and graphics that help to support policy messages. New sections have been also published following latest policy developments. In 2023 the ‘CAP in my country’ section was created to inform about the entry into force of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 and its application in each EU country through the dedicated CAP Strategic Plans. In 2024 a new section was created to present various simplification measures on the CAP in response to farmers’ concerns.
As part of communication material, the website hosts the podcast series ‘ Food for Europe ’ which is produced in three languages: English, French and German. The different episodes feature relevant topics linked to recent political events or policy initiatives and give voice to citizens, experts and policymakers. These podcasts series are available on different platforms (Spotify, YouTube, Google podcast) and they are also regularly promoted on social media channels. In 2023 and 2024, i.e. seasons 5 and 6, twenty-two episodes were released, 11 episodes each year. In 2023, there were more than 750 listens per podcast episode on average while in 2024, the average number listens per podcast episode exceeded 1 100.
The Commission’s website had more than 1.7 million visitors and almost 4.4 million page views in 2023, and nearly 2 million visitors and 4.5 million page views in 2024.
Social media
The Commission continued to use social media to inform citizens and stakeholders on all aspects of CAP activities.
In 2023, the number of followers across all social platforms reached 309 634, well above the target of 275 000. The Commission grew content impressions, reaching 88 million impressions. Extra emphasis was put on raising awareness of CAP priorities, both through paid advertising on social media, and by engaging specific audiences with targeted activities:
-social media campaign to mark the registration of the 3 500th geographical indication (GI) , with 31 300 impressions on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook;
-social media campaign on promoting the second edition of the #EUOrganic Awards and videos of the winners on Instagram, Facebook and X. The campaign achieved 24 million (24 223 394) impressions. The #EUOrganic hashtag had a total of 2 951 posts by 871 users that achieved 28 000 engagements;
-data visualisation on “ What science tells us about sustainable #FarmingPractices" to promote science-based results to encourage the adoption of sustainable farming practices. A total of 72 000 impressions was achieved across the three channels (X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) with the posts attracting 3 500 engagements and 382 link clicks landing on the iMAP FP dataset, an evidence library of the effects of farming practices on the environment and the climate 10 ;
-launch of the Rural observatory #RuralVisionEU with a total of 107 562 impressions and engagements;
-social media campaign to create awareness raising on the first-ever edition of the EU Agri-Food Days event with a total of 17 497 245 impressions and 91 751 clicks;
-video campaign on YouTube to promote the outcomes of the AgriResearch Conference and research profiles with 562 647 impressions and 269 059 views;
-social media campaign to mark the entry into force of the CAP 2023-2027.
In 2024, the number of followers across all social platforms reached 330 194, well above the target of 275 000. The Commission gained content impressions, reaching almost 42 million impressions. Most notable social media activities in 2024 were:
-social media campaign to promote the call for applications period of the Agri Promotion Policy on Facebook and Instagram with 23 942 link clicks and 2 194 194 impressions;
-social media campaign on promoting the third edition of the #EUOrganic Awards and videos of the winners on Instagram and Facebook. The campaign achieved 18 million (18 551 142) impressions with a high of 6.3 million impressions during September 2024 and 3 million people on average during the whole reporting period. The #EUOrganic hashtag had a total of 2 312 posts by 445 users that achieved 21 400 engagements;
-social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram to promote the call for applications for the IMCAP grants which gained 9 990 213 impressions and 138 605 link clicks;
-social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram to promote the survey on Unfair Trade Practices which gained 3 438 863 impressions and 67 578 link clicks;
-social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram to promote the EU Agri Food days event which gained 6 912 749 views and 109 176 link clicks.
Conferences
In this period, engaging with stakeholders and reaching out to the general public continued to be a priority for the Commission’s communication actions. Conferences were an important means for consultation and the exchange of information and ideas on vital policy issues between the Commission and a wide variety of stakeholders, at regional, national and international level.
In 2023, the Commission launched a new concept of EU Agri-Food Days, its annual flagship event, by grouping the Agricultural Outlook Conference and the Digital conference. The event took place between 6 and 8 December 2023 and was opened by the President of the Commission via a video message followed by an opening address by the Commissioner for Agriculture. Discussions were held on the outlook of European agriculture, market trends, food security, sustainability, and digital innovation. This international event brought together farmers, policymakers, business leaders, analysts, and experts from around the world to foster dialogue and inspire transformative ideas. There were 1 523 participants on site and 3 550 online viewers over the 3 days with average satisfaction rate of 93.75%.
Ahead of the official launch, the EU Agri-food days also included the EU-Canada conference Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture on 5 December. Stakeholders and policymakers reviewed progress to date and discussed future priorities for the next phase of the ongoing EU-Canada Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture. A broad and diverse participation of agriculture stakeholders from both Canada and the EU attended the event (90 participants).
In 2023, the 5th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial Conference was also held in Rome on 30 June. The participated monitored the progress achieved between summits to advance cooperation between the African Union and the European Union. 37 country delegations were represented at the conference from which 22 of African countries with a total of 400 participants. The plenary session was followed by 805 viewers online.
In 2024, one major conference and a policy dialogue were organised:
-From 10 to 12 December 2024, the second edition of EU Agri-Food Days took place in Brussels. The event was structured around a political and economic Outlook and the Digital conference, involving topics linked to the food supply chain, research and innovation. The event was opened by the President of the Commission via a video message followed by keynote speeches by the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Commissioner for Agriculture. The discussions focused on the latest agricultural trends, policy options, market developments, as well as research, innovation and digital technologies. Commissioner Hansen hosted a press point on the first day of the event with approximately 20 journalists present (Brussels correspondents and national media). This annual event brought together agri-food system stakeholders, civil society, consumers, academia and policymakers from across the EU. Over 1 000 participants were on site and 6 500 online viewers over the 3 days, the average satisfaction rate was 90%.
-On 11 December 2024, the first Youth Policy Dialogue with Commissioner Hansen was also organised in Brussels at the margins of EU Agri-Food Days. 25 participants coming from 14 Member States with a background in farming, food, and rural areas met with the Commissioner and proposed solutions to generational renewal, sustainability, competitiveness and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector. The event was widely covered on the Commission social media channels (10 169 views).
Fairs and events
The Commission participated with a stand at the Internationale Grüne Woche in Berlin, Germany (20-29 January 2023 and 19-28 January 2024) and the Salon international de l’agriculture in Paris, France (25 February-5 March 2023 and 24 February-3 March 2024). The stands were very popular, receiving 2 064 visitors/day (Berlin) and 4 187 visitors/day (Paris) in 2023. In 2024, there were 1 253 visitors/day (Berlin) and 2 100 visitors/day (Paris).
As part of the outreach to target audiences in Member States, the Commission was present at the agricultural fair Demo Agro 2023 in Spain from 23 to 25 May 2023. New activities developed at the stand focused on passing key messages on two main topics: the new common agricultural policy (through revamped stand visuals and a quiz tailored both for adults and for children) and on geographical indications (with a new activity introducing and explaining the GI schemes and encouraging visitors to recognise the PDO and PGI logos). There were 2 000 visitors/day.
From 26 to 29 July 2024, the Commission also participated with a stand at the agricultural fair in Libramont, Belgium. On average, the fair attracted 1 570 people/day.
In both 2023 and 2024, the Commission participated at the EU Open Day in Brussels on the occasion of 9 May celebrations. The stand included activities on the new CAP and tasting of GI products. Some 10 000 visitors attended the event in 2023 and in 2024.
The second and third EU Organic Awards ceremony took place in Brussels on 25 September 2023 (in the presence of 125 participants on site and 970 online viewers, 80% satisfaction rate) and on 23 September 2024 (in the presence of 123 participants on site and 970 online viewers), immediately after the EU Organic Day. The EU Organic Awards acknowledge excellence in the organic value chain. They comprise 7 categories and 8 individual awards. The award ceremony was opened by the Commissioner for Agriculture. In 2023, a Food for Europe podcast episode was dedicated to the EU organic awards, where various speakers discussed many of the issues surrounding organic production and consumption ( 14. #Organic: EU Organic Awards by Food for Europe ).
Publications
As before, there was a continued focus on the further development of publications in electronic forms. Limited stock of key paper publications was ensured mainly to be distributed during events, at some conferences and by EU networks, through Europe Direct Centres and Representations, for example.
The development of a geographical indication toolkit (conceptual phase) aimed at encouraging producers across Member States to register a GI started in 2022. The Commission continued to develop in house a series of fact sheets, infographics and publications to respond to various needs expressed by the DG’s units. Throughout 2023 and 2024, the production phase for the explanatory videos showcasing how to register a GI advanced, the production of the 5 testimonial videos of GI producers and GI video aimed at consumers were finalised.
Eurobarometer
A Special Eurobarometer 556 survey on ‘ Europeans, Agriculture and the CAP ’ was conducted with fieldwork in June and July 2024 and published in January 2025. For over the last 15 years (since 2007), the Commission biannually polls European citizens on their view of agriculture in general and of the CAP in particular. This survey helps to better target Commission’s communication actions in relation with the CAP. Furthermore, it provides data for the evaluation of the external communication strategy and informs the preparation of the next strategy.
78% of respondents to the 2024 Eurobarometer survey were aware of the EU's common agricultural policy, the highest level of public awareness for the CAP since 2007, when awareness stood at 64%.
3)Corporate communication
Corporate communication plays a vital role in engaging European citizens and enhancing their understanding of EU values, political priorities, and policies. This approach is central to building and maintaining a positive image of the EU among diverse audiences across the EU. By combining sector-specific messaging with a broader, unified communication strategy, the Commission ensures maximum effectiveness and cost-efficiency through strategic, coherent, and multilingual outreach.
The NextGenEU communication campaign was launched in 2021 to showcase how the EU is shaping a healthier, greener, and more digital Europe. While initially targeting a broad audience, the campaign evolved to focus on the business sector, highlighting investment opportunities in clean technology. In 2024, the campaign has shifted toward more local engagement, directly addressing citizens and demonstrating tangible impacts on their everyday lives. Certain campaigns highlights reflected the EU’s commitment to agricultural and rural development, aligning closely with the CAP’s objectives.
In January 2024, DG COMM concluded the You are EU campaign, which linked the energy transition to core EU values. This campaign complemented national efforts on energy saving and was particularly impactful in rural areas. Using a mix of traditional media (billboards, radio) and digital platforms, the campaign reached an estimated 350 million Europeans aged 15 and over.
The messages of NextGenEU and You are EU are related to the CAP’s objectives. Promoting the green and digital transition not only serves economic and environmental goals but also reinforces the CAP’s mission to support sustainable agriculture, protect natural resources, and meet the EU’s climate and biodiversity commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement.
V.THE PROPORTION OF SPENDING (COMMITMENTS AND PAYMENTS) BETWEEN CO-FINANCED ACTIONS AT THE INITIATIVE OF THIRD PARTIES (GRANTS) AND INFORMATION ACTIONS AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE COMMISSION (PUBLIC PROCUREMENT) 11
|
2023 |
2024 |
|||||
|
Amounts in EUR |
Grants |
Public procurement |
Total |
Grants |
Public procurement |
Total |
|
Actual budget |
4 042 650 |
17 827 446 |
21 870 096 |
4 923 731 |
41 099 239 |
46 022 969 |
|
Commitments+
|
4 042 650 |
17 825 319 |
21 867 969 |
4 923 731 |
41 099 239
|
46 022 969
|
|
% of consumption |
100% |
99.99% |
99.99% |
100% |
100% |
100,00% |
|
Payments 12 |
3 875 729 |
16 199 664 |
20 075 593 |
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
% of payment vs. Commitment/Co-Delegation (*) |
95.87% |
90.88% |
91.80% |
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
(*) Figures including commitments level 1 or 2 (C1 or C8 appropriations) as well as budget spent by co-delegated entities.
(**) Based on DG AGRI's external communication action plan amendment.
(***) Payments of these actions are ongoing and not yet finalised.
VI.CONCLUSION
Information measures carried out in relation to the common agricultural policy during 2023 and 2024 were focused on the policy review and its capacity to better respond to the emerging economic, environmental and social challenges. Communication activities focused on CAP contribution to objectives of the Green Deal, the Climate Pact, the Farm to Fork Strategy as well as to food security and resilience in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.