Farm policy reform plans were debated at a unique meeting of EP Agriculture Committee MEPs, Member States' farm ministers and the European Commission. This was the first time in the EU's history that legislative proposals for farm policy reform were discussed in the one room by the two co-deciding bodies - the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

EP Agriculture Committee MEPs, Member States' farm ministers and the European Commission debated the EU farm policy at a unique meeting held on 7 November in Brussels. At the meeting, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek urged participants to act responsibly in reforming one of the EU's oldest policies, accounting for 37% of its budget for 2014-2020.

MEPs agreed with ministers that many parts of the proposals, such as stepping up support for young farmers and investment in research, go in the right direction. However they felt that as currently drafted, they were unlikely to deliver. The Commission proposal to reform the CAP, which was adopted by the Commission on 12 October, will bring more bureaucracy according to MEPs.

Additionally, several ministers including ministers from Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden rejected plans to cap direct payments to farmers. Many participants also rejected a Commission proposal to abolish sugar quotas as soon as 2015 and some, such as the Romanian minister, said they should be extended until 2020. Furthermore, the plan to make up to 30% of payments conditional upon farmers taking "greening" measures was also criticized by MEPs along the proposal to set aside 7% of land for ecological purposes which according to them, would run counter to the food security goal.