TL:DR – European Court of Auditors Raises Concerns Over EU Agricultural Budget Plan
• The European Court of Auditors (ECA) published a report on 09 February 2026 regarding the EU’s long-term agricultural budget for 2028-2034.
• The ECA raised concerns about a lack of clarity in tracking public funds under the new European Common Agriculture Policy.
• The ECA warned that uncertainties could create unpredictability for fund recipients during planning stages.
• The ongoing budget negotiations are expected to maintain the overall structure, despite debates over specific figures.
Proposed EU long-term agriculture budget has monitoring flaws, Court of Auditors warns
A lack of clarity regarding the tracking of public funds has been highlighted by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) concerning the European Union’s upcoming long-term agricultural budget. This assessment was released on Monday and is part of a series evaluating the EU’s proposed budget for 2028-2034.
The ECA’s report addresses significant concerns about the new proposal, particularly its departure from the previous EU budget framework, which previously had set guidelines. Under the new arrangement, EU countries will create their own national plans, mirroring the EU Recovery Plan initiated to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
European Court of Auditors Warns of Uncertainties
In the report, the ECA warned that this shift could lead to unpredictability for recipients. The auditors stated, “For the recipients of funds, this could create unpredictability at the planning stage about how much funding they can expect.”
Issues raised by the ECA include a lack of clear rules on payments and monitoring, which could facilitate potential misuse of funds. They noted, “This reduces predictability for beneficiaries, delays the delivery of funds, and may ultimately undermine the objective of simplification.”
Negotiation of the EU Long-Term Budget Continues
The ECA also pointed out that it remains unclear whether payments will be made based on predefined targets or contingent upon achieved results. The negotiations for the next EU long-term budget are ongoing among the bloc’s institutions. According to three EU officials who spoke with Euronews on condition of anonymity, while budget figures are under debate, the overall structure is likely to remain consistent.
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