On May 20, 2025, the regular General Assembly and Board of Directors meeting of the European Confederation of Maize Production (CEPM) took place in Bucharest. The event coincided with the 40th anniversary of the organization and brought together representatives from France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania. The host was the Romanian association Forumul APPR.

Key Topics: CAP, Climate, and International Trade

The forum focused on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028–2034. Farmers called for:

  • Greater clarity and predictability in legislation.

  • Simplification of bureaucratic procedures.

  • The creation of a permanent reserve fund to respond to natural disasters.

  • Support for innovation and sustainable agriculture.

Participants expressed concern over the potential reduction of the CAP budget in the context of rising EU military expenditures. A report was presented noting that inflationary pressure has already “eroded” over €85 billion from the CAP’s purchasing power by 2027.

Market
Production reached 59 million tons of maize—marking the third consecutive year below the 65 million ton threshold. The reasons include adverse weather conditions, lower yields—especially in the Danube basin—and quality issues.

Ukraine and International Trade
CEPM is working to protect European producers during negotiations with Ukraine and is firmly opposed to liberalization that would harm European production. The organization advocates for the retention of existing tariff quotas, anti-dumping measures against imports from China and Thailand, and the introduction of appropriate tariffs when necessary.

Phytosanitary Regulations
Serious concerns were raised about stricter regulations on mycotoxins and the ban on the active substance S-metolachlor, which had been widely used in maize cultivation.

Biotechnologies
CEPM supports the introduction of NGTs (New Genomic Techniques) and calls for regulations that facilitate access to innovation without excessive bureaucracy.

Carbon and Bioenergy
CEPM is an active participant in the Carbon Farming project and in consultations on new sustainability requirements for biofuels.

Deterioration in Agricultural Autonomy and Economic Conditions for Farmers
Between 2019 and 2024, the EU’s trade balance significantly worsened in cereals (-59%), feed (-19%), and livestock products (-18%), raising concerns about the EU’s agricultural sovereignty. Simultaneously, demographic data shows a decrease of 1 million farmers, and real incomes in the sector have dropped by 9%. This highlights the deepening crisis in the sustainability and viability of European agriculture.

From an environmental perspective, there have been moderately positive results—greenhouse gas emissions and pesticide use have each declined by 7%, and biogas production has increased by 11%. However, extreme weather conditions are intensifying—drought occurrences have risen by 106%, and soil carbon levels have dropped. This confirms the need for strategic changes to address both economic and climate-related challenges in the sector.

Bulgarian Participation
The Bulgarian delegation, led by representatives of the National Association of Grain Producers (NAGP), presented the challenges faced by the sector in Bulgaria, including:

  • Insufficient irrigation infrastructure.

  • The need for investment in sustainable agricultural practices.

  • The importance of supporting small and medium-sized farmers.

The Bulgarian representatives emphasized the importance of cooperation among EU member states to tackle shared agricultural challenges.

Farm Visit and Exchange of Experience
On May 21, the delegations visited the farm of Romanian farmer Nicolae Sitaru, who is also one of the founders of the Romanian professional agricultural organization. The host spoke about the history of his farm and the challenges faced by Romanian farmers—from the beginning of the transition period to the present day.

  • Due to droughts during the past two seasons, yields from spring crops have been extremely low, resulting in significant losses for producers. The solution they see as effective is investment in irrigation systems. At his farm, Sitaru currently irrigates about 500 hectares using pivots and has the ambition to triple this area. However, he encounters difficulties in dealing with the state administration during the investment process. Bureaucratic obstacles related to obtaining permits for wells and other administrative procedures cause delays and increase project costs. A simplified regime exists only for wells with a depth of up to 50 meters.

  • Another serious issue hindering production is the widespread infestation of wireworms. Addressing this requires seed treatment, which is currently restricted.