The European Commission has approved €132 million in funding for initiatives promoting EU agricultural products within the EU and in third countries. The funding forms part of the EU's Promotion of Agricultural Products programme, which supports campaigns covering areas such as organic produce, fresh products, and EU-recognised quality schemes.
This year's call for proposals attracted 189 submissions, a 17% increase compared to 2024, with more Member States participating. Following an evaluation by independent experts, the European Commission selected 72 campaigns for funding.
Of these, 56 are 'SIMPLE' programs, implemented by one or more organisations from the same EU country, while 16 are 'MULTI' programs, implemented by organisations from at least two Member States or by European-level organisations.
The selected projects aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU agri-food sector while supporting the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Green Deal, and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, including the promotion of healthier and more balanced diets.
EU co-financing for SIMPLE programs will total €91.5 million, with over half of the campaigns targeting non-EU markets such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, the United States, and China. Funding for SIMPLE programs will be managed jointly with Member States. The main product categories include fruit and vegetables.
MULTI programs will receive €39 million in co-financing. Applicants from 15 Member States were selected, with 74% of the budget focused on promotion within the EU, particularly in countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and Hungary. These programs will be managed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) on behalf of the European Commission.
The European Commission has adopted the implementing decision for the SIMPLE programs, and Member State authorities will begin preparing grant agreements with successful applicants. REA will begin signing agreements for the MULTI programs in December 2025, with activities expected to start in January 2026.
The next call for proposals is expected to open on 22 January 2026, with a deadline of 23 April 2026. An information event will take place in Brussels on 27–28 January 2026, both online and in person.
© European CommissionFor more information:
European Commission
Tel: +32 2 299 96 96
www.rea.ec.europa.eu
