French farming minister Stephane Le Foll has conceded that EU budget cuts are inevitable, but said the French government will fight to see agriculture spending is unaffected by cuts. France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, also receives the largest amount in agricultural subsidies.

On Tuesday, Le Foll said he accepted that hopes to maintain spending at current levels are unrealistic, given the determination of powerful states seeking to cut spending. Germany and the UK have sought spending cuts; in failing to support France at an EU Council meeting in November, Germany reneged on a deal struck in October, in which the two governments pledged to work together to preserve farm spending.

At the council meeting, Western European nations argued for cuts to the next EU budget (2014-2020), while France and the EU's Southern and Eastern states attempted to preserve spending.

After the talks ended without a resolution, Europe's heads of state arranged to meet early next year to resume negotiations. France and its allies managed to preserve some spending during negotiations last month, though current figures put the next budget around €364 billion (£294bn), with €17bn in cuts set to remain, as proposed by European Council chair Herman von Rompuy under a compromise tabled at November's meeting.

Although leading up to the talks last month, leaders of several member states had threatened to use their power of veto, French president Francois Hollande criticised this approach. He said, "No country should have a privileged position. I come here to find a compromise, not to set an ultimatum."