5:30 20 February 2026
President vetoes farmer bill
President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed the Active Farmers Act, arguing that its provisions could harm small farms. The legislation aimed to regulate subsidy collection by landowners and introduce a national register of active farmers, but sparked strong debate across the agricultural sector.
Hours before the veto, Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski urged the president to sign the bill, stressing that it would not exclude farmers already receiving direct payments or compensation for weather- or market-related losses. He noted that 91 agricultural organizations took part in public consultations and supported the measure, saying it responded to demands raised during recent farmer protests.
The act sought to improve conditions for producers actively working their land and strengthen planning stability through better use of Common Agricultural Policy funds. It also included a 2026 transition period: farms receiving up to €1,125 in direct payments in 2025 — roughly holdings of up to five hectares — would automatically qualify as active farmers.
