Europeans want cheap groceries and fair pay for farmers, a new Eurobarometer survey shows. Food prices and farmer incomes top their priorities for the next Common Agricultural Policy, ahead of food security and climate goals. Brussels must now balance both demands.
A new Eurobarometer survey found that 55 per cent of Europeans see reasonable food prices as a top priority for the future of EU agricultural policy, while 53 per cent pointed to fair incomes for farmers. Food security followed at 50 per cent, ahead of environmental protection and climate action at 47 per cent and sustainable food production at 46 per cent.
The results land as the EU negotiates the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It is one of the bloc’s largest budget items, the main source of direct payments to farmers and funding for rural development.
Agriculture’s rising importance
Some 95 per cent of Europeans consider agriculture and rural areas important for Europe’s future, and 93 per cent see a stable food supply as important. Support for the CAP itself runs high, too. More than seven in ten respondents said the CAP benefits all Europeans, not just farmers, and more than two-thirds credited it with protecting the environment and tackling climate change.
Christophe Hansen, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, welcomed the findings. “It is encouraging to see such strong public support for European agriculture and our farmers,” he said. “These results show that we are aligned with our citizens on the priorities that matter most: ensuring safe, high-quality food, supporting farmers and strengthening rural areas, while protecting our environment. The Common Agricultural Policy is central to delivering on these priorities and supporting farmers in meeting the expectations of European citizens.”
Most respondents believe food security has improved over the past decade. Yet nearly nine in ten recognise that extreme weather events can disrupt food production and supply.
European origin matters to shoppers
It was the first time Eurobarometer asked specifically about the importance of EU origin. Almost eight in ten respondents said whether a product comes from the EU is important, or very important, when deciding what to buy.
The finding chimes with the Commission’s new promotional campaign for European food, an initiative Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first announced in her 2025 State of the Union Speech. The Commission characterized this initiative as part of a larger effort to enhance European farmers and promote food produced according to EU standards.
Affordable food and better farmer incomes
The results expose the central dilemma facing the next CAP. Consumers want affordable food, but they also expect farmers to earn a fair income, and European producers to meet high environmental and animal-welfare standards.
The Common Agricultural Policy is central to delivering on these priorities and supporting farmers in meeting the expectations of European citizens. — Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food
The Commission’s proposals try to ease some of these pressures. They include a floor for EU funding that would guarantee farmers’ income through direct payments.
Trade adds another layer. Many Europeans still see value in EU trade agreements. These open markets for European exports and reduce reliance on single suppliers. But respondents also expect imported food to meet the same standards required of EU farmers. That concern echoes farmers’ own complaints about competition from lower-standard imports.
A difficult balance for the next CAP
The survey backs agriculture strongly. But it also shows the sheer number of things Europeans expect it to deliver: affordable food, secure supplies, fairer incomes for farmers, better use of natural resources, environmental protection, and higher standards for sustainable production.
Balancing these goals will be harder than simply deciding how much money EU agriculture should receive. Negotiations over the next CAP will have to settle not just the budget, but how it is split between income support, competitiveness, food security, and environmental goals.
