Video: @salvadorilla / X
President appeals for emergency funds
On Wednesday 14 October 2026, President of the Generalitat Salvador Illa formally requested that the European Commission activate extraordinary aid from the EU's Community agricultural reserve to support Catalan farmers and ranchers. During a meeting in Brussels with representatives of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, Illa highlighted the sector's worsening conditions, including falling market prices, rising production costs, and declining profitability. Illa was accompanied by Jaume Duch, Minister for the European Union and External Action. Presidency sources stated that the president urged European institutions to strengthen agricultural funding and take concrete steps to defend Catalan farming interests.
Meetings with EU leadership
Illa met with Eric Sargiacomo, Vice-President of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, and spokesperson Cristina Maestre. He also held discussions with Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Fair, and Competitive Energy Transition. Following the talks, Illa told reporters that mobilising the European contingency fund was crucial. "It is very important that the European contingency fund, designed to address situations like the current one, be mobilized," he said.
Opposition to CAP funding cuts
Illa communicated Catalonia’s official position on the proposed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2028–2034, opposing a 3% reduction in funding under the current proposal from the Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union. He rejected the idea of merging the CAP into a single fund and stressed the importance of regional involvement in managing agricultural support. According to the Generalitat’s position paper on the new generation of European funds, the Catalan government advocates for decentralised management, strategic territorial planning, and increased crisis reserves. The 2018 agricultural roundtable agreement between the Department of Agriculture and sector representatives had already established these priorities.
It is very important that the European contingency fund, designed to address situations like the current one, be mobilized.
The European Commission allocated €540 million in July 2026 to support farmers affected by the fertiliser and energy crisis linked to the Middle East conflict, according to its official agriculture department. However, Catalan authorities argue that additional targeted aid is needed to address ongoing structural challenges in the sector.
Primary sources: Generalitat de Catalunya, eb.gencat.cat, Directorate-General. Reported by vilaweb.cat, en.ara.cat, eb.matrixnews.in, independent.ie, gov.ie, Farm Europe, farmersjournal.ie, capreform.eu, VilaWeb Feed.
