Committees · Agriculture and Rural Development

AGRI

2 ESN seats

Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development plays a central role in shaping European agricultural policy.

ESN seats

Members total

Subcommittees

2024–29

10th term

Mandate & Tasks

What This Committee Handles.

It is responsible for legislation concerning the Common Agricultural Policy, food security, rural development, agricultural markets, animal and plant health, organic production, food supply chains and the competitiveness of the European farming sector.

Key facts · AGRI

Full name

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Size

49 members

ESN seats

2 of 49

Subcommittees

Meeting cycle

Legal basis

Annex VI of the EP Rules of Procedure

ESN in AGRI

AGRI is entering a strategically important phase of the legislative cycle.

— ESN Committee Booklet · Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Remit

Four Policy Areas of the Committee.

ESN Position

Our Line in the Committee.

The Group’s priorities in this committee, as set out in the ESN Committee Booklet.

Strong, Autonomous Common Agricultural Policy

ESN supports a strong and autonomous Common Agricultural Policy as a dedicated agricultural policy.

European Food Security and Sovereignty

It defends European food security and food sovereignty, supports farmers and opposes additional administrative burdens, and seeks to preserve flexibility for the Member States.

Practical Legislation, Realistic Environmental Objectives

ESN promotes simplification, legal certainty and practical legislation, while insisting that environmental objectives remain realistic, proportionate and compatible with agricultural production.

Strengthen Farmers' Position

It also seeks to strengthen farmers' position in the food supply chain and protect fair competition in the Single Market.

ESN Members in AGRI

Two Seats in This Committee.

The two ESN seats in AGRI are held by the Members listed below. The named assignment is updated at the start of each session period.

Full Member

Ivan DAVID

Full Member

Arno BAUSEMER

Substitute Member

Zsuzsanna BORVENDÉG

Substitute Member

Stanislav STOYANOV

As of 2026 · Full list with named assignments available on request from the secretariat

Track record

Key Achievements.

ESN has established itself as an active and constructive political force in AGRI. It contributed to the committee’s adoption of the Organic Production Regulation and the Plant Reproductive Material Regulation through sustained engagement in technical meetings, shadow meetings and compromise negotiations. Throughout the legislative process, ESN defended simplification, legal certainty and a balanced regulatory framework. It also supported the protection of meat denominations in negotiations on the Common Market Organisation, promoting transparency for consumers and fair competition for European livestock producers.

ESN in action

Contributed to the Organic Production and Plant Reproductive Material files.

Defended meat denominations in Common Market Organisation negotiations.

Pressed for simplification and lower administrative burdens for farmers.

Outlook

Looking Ahead.

AGRI is entering a strategically important phase of the legislative cycle. ESN will continue to defend a strong and autonomous Common Agricultural Policy, food security, European agricultural competitiveness, subsidiarity and flexibility for the Member States. It will also advocate proportionate environmental legislation and simpler rules that reduce administrative burdens for farmers.

Documents

From the Parliament.

Studies, briefings and meeting documents of this committee, published by the European Parliament.

Opinion · 2026

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027 – all sections

Opinion Letter · 2026

Opinion on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures applicable to Armenian products

Opinion · 2026

Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2008/98/EC, 2010/75/EU, (EU) 2015/2193 and (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden

Opinion Letter · 2026

Opinion of the AGRI Committee on the alignment of the Geneva Act (Lisbon Agreement) revisions and the EU Geographical Indications framework

Opinion Letter · 2026

Opinion on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States

Draft Report · 2026

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards the school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme (‘EU school scheme’), sectoral interventions, the creation of a protein sector, requirements for hemp, the possibility for marketing standards for cheese, protein crops and meat, application of additional import duties, rules on the availability of supplies in time of emergencies and severe crisis and securities

Draft Report · 2026

Strengthening competitiveness, resilience and fairness in EU agriculture

Draft Opinion · 2026

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027 – all sections

Related committees

Also of Interest.

Three closely related committees in which the ESN Group is represented.

SANT

Public Health

The Committee on Public Health is responsible for EU action in public health, where the Union mainly complements and coordinates the policies of the Member States.

PECH

Fisheries

The Committee on Fisheries is responsible for EU fisheries policy, including the Common Fisheries Policy, conservation and management of marine biological resources, fisheries agreements, fleet measures, market rules, aquaculture, control and enforcement, and the socio-economic conditions of coastal communities.

ENVI

Environment, Climate and Food Safety

The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety deals with legislation on climate, the environment and food safety.