News summary produced by Claude AI
Newly disclosed internal documents from Copa Cogeca, a powerful farming organization representing 22 million farmers across Europe, detail its campaign to undermine significant EU agricultural reforms proposed beginning in 2020. The organization employed various tactics to oppose environmental and health-focused policies, according to records obtained by investigative journalism outlets.
One major target was an EU initiative to reduce pesticide use by half to protect biodiversity. Copa Cogeca’s strategy involved delaying tactics and intensified lobbying efforts. Internal documents from September 2022 referenced the European parliament elections scheduled for 2024 and suggested waiting until then to force the Commission to abandon its objectives. The group also requested a new impact assessment for the policy, which extended the policymaking process by six months. The sustainable use of pesticides regulation was withdrawn in February 2024, shortly before the elections Copa Cogeca had been deliberately stalling.
The documents also revealed Copa Cogeca’s efforts to protect pesticide approvals, including support for glyphosate, which the World Health Organization’s cancer research body classified as probably carcinogenic. Additionally, the organization worked to block restrictions on red meat promotion within EU health initiatives. When the Commission proposed limiting promotional spending on red and processed meat, Copa Cogeca coordinated with commissioners and allied lobbies to weaken the measures. Within two years, health criteria were removed entirely.
Copa Cogeca also successfully lobbied to alter industrial farm regulations before public release. An internal memo indicated that thresholds for what constitutes an industrial farm were raised by 50% before the proposal became public, with analysis suggesting this change cost approximately 1.8 billion euros annually in lost health benefits. The organization organized farm visits, launched media campaigns, and coordinated pressure on EU ambassadors before critical votes. The final law that emerged was significantly weaker than original proposals, with substantially higher thresholds for poultry and pig operations and cattle exclusions.
On animal welfare issues, internal documents showed the industry could eliminate caged farming immediately with financial support, yet Copa Cogeca publicly demanded a transition period of up to 15 years. The organization also pursued removal of protected status for wolves from EU nature law, declaring a “major lobbying victory” in September 2024, with the habitats directive amended in June 2025.