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
Date: 2026-01-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, EU initiative, European Commission, co-financing, common agricultural policy, dissemination of EU information, public awareness campaign

EN 

  EN 

   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 
Regulation'). 

the  common  agricultural  policy1  (hereinafter 

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 report2. 

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 

1 
2 

OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187. 
COM(2003)  235  final  of  8.5.2003;  COM(2007)  324  final  of  13.6.2007;  COM(2009)  237  final  of 
20.5.2009;  COM(2011)  294  final  of  25.5.2011;  COM(2013)  645  final  of  20.9.2013;  COM(2016)  83 
final  of  23.2.2016;  COM(2017)  777  final  of  19.12.2017;  COM(2019)  634  final  of  17.12.2019; 
COM(2021) 822 final of 20.12.2021: COM(2023) 767 final of 6.12.2023. 

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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  decision3,  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) 

3  

4  

Commission  implementing  decision  2023:  C(2022)  8914  final,  Commission  implementing  decision 
2024: C(2023) 8513 final amended by C(2024) 2473 final, C(2024) 5968 final and C(2024) 8375 final 
To note that, in 2024, a budgetary flexibility, including frontloading of additional budget, was applied 
leading  to  actual  figures  slightly  different  than  those  stated  above  (see  point  V  for  actual  amounts 
committed/paid). 

2 

 
 
 
 
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 grants5, 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 proposals6 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 applicants7. 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: 

5 

6 

7 

Call for proposals for grants 2023 published on the European Commission’s funding & tenders portal 
under the topic ID IMCAP-2023-INFOME EU Funding & Tenders Portal 
Call for proposals for grants 2024 published on the European Commission’s funding & tenders portal 
under topic ID IMCAP-2024-INFOME EU Funding & Tenders Portal  
More  information  on  grants  are  also  to  be  found  on  the  Europa  website:  Grants  for  information  - 
European Commission  

3 

 
 
 
•  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 call8.  

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: 

8  

Detailed information on the projects can be found on Beneficiaries - European Commission 

4 

 
 
 
- 

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 members9 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. 

9 Defined as members who did not log into the platform in the last 48 months. 

5 

 
 
 
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 climate10;  

- 

- 

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: 

10 JRC - Farming Practices Evidence library 

6 

 
 
 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

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 

7 

 
 
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). 

8 

 
 
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. 

9 

 
 
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
+ 
Co-Delegation 
(*) 

% of 
consumption 

4 042 650 

17 825 319 

21 867 969 

4 923 731 

41 099 239 
(**) 

46 022 969 
(**) 

100% 

99.99% 

99.99% 

100% 

100% 

100,00% 

Payments12 

3 875 729 

16 199 664 

20 075 593 

N/A 
(***) 

N/A 
(***) 

% of payment 
vs. 
Commitment/
Co-Delegation 
(*) 

95.87% 

90.88% 

91.80% 

N/A 
(***) 

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. 

11 

12  

2023  and  2024  contribution  of  EUR 31  755 000  for  corporate  communication  is  not  included  in  this 
table. Neither the OSAKA World expo contribution. 
Payments are generally lower than the amounts originally committed. In the case of grants, the actual 
costs  of  the  activities  can  be  lower  than  initially  foreseen  in  the  provisional  budget  of  the  Grant 
Agreement,  and  secondly,  because  some  costs  declared  by  the  beneficiaries  could  be  considered  as 
ineligible.  In  the  case  of  actions  taken  at  the  initiative  of  the  Commission,  the  difference  between 
payments and commitments arises from the fact that, while commitments are fixed, actual expenditure 
could  be  lower  than  that  foreseen  due  to  savings  and/or  use  of  more  cost-effective  measures  during 
implementation. 

10 

 
 
 
 
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.  

11