French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has promised targeted support and investment measures for agriculture in the upcoming 2027 national budget.
The commitment was outlined in an open letter published by regional newspapers on Saturday, August 15, marking his third direct message to French farmers this year.
Lecornu issued the pledge one day after France's Constitutional Council validated the country's emergency agricultural law. He confirmed that the draft finance bill, which his government will defend in Parliament this autumn, will feature a tax super-deduction mechanism designed to encourage future agricultural projects.
Parliamentary hurdles and emergency legislation
The proposed 2027 budget will also include specific funding to support water infrastructure investments, advance climate change adaptation, and protect the competitiveness of French farming sectors.
However, passing these financial provisions remains uncertain because the government lacks an absolute majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate. In the French political system, major budgetary legislation requires legislative consensus or special constitutional procedures to pass through the two houses of Parliament.
Lecornu appealed to the responsibility of lawmakers, stating that Parliament must provide a budget for the nation while setting aside political considerations linked to upcoming elections.
Regarding immediate legal steps, the prime minister announced that the newly validated emergency agricultural law will be promulgated without delay. He added that cabinet ministers must immediately begin drafting the necessary application decrees to bring the legislation into effect.
Drought relief and farm assistance
The upcoming budget promises follow emergency interventions already announced by Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard to help farmers cope with an early and severe drought across France.
Under those plans, targeted financial packages will be placed at the disposal of regional prefects, who serve as local administrative representatives of the state. Prefects will distribute these funds to support farm cash flows and assist growers in restoring production capacity.
The government is also expanding the public loss compensation scheme, committing to provide as much funding as necessary to cover agricultural losses. In addition, the farms most severely affected by environmental hardship will be eligible for reductions in property taxes and social security contributions.
These relief efforts come as extreme weather conditions continue to hit French agriculture. Heatwaves, prolonged dry spells, and a reduction in cultivated land have combined to drive French corn harvests down to their lowest levels since 1980.
European agricultural policy negotiations
Lecornu also highlighted ongoing European Union negotiations regarding the future Common Agricultural Policy, known as the CAP. The CAP is the EU's comprehensive subsidy system that supports farm incomes and agricultural development across all member states.
The prime minister stated that along with French President Emmanuel Macron, he has made a clear commitment that not a single cent will be cut from the current level of direct subsidies paid to French farmers.
He added that the future European policy must focus on supporting farmer income, promoting sustainable environmental practices, encouraging generational renewal among young farmers, driving capital investment, aiding climate adaptation, and compensating the essential public services that farms provide to local communities.
