The EU Commission has presented a major package of measures targeting the administrative burden, controls, implementation, crisis response and investment needs of the farming sector.
The changes could save up to €1.58 billion annually for farmers and €210 million for national administrations, according to the Commission, while making payments, some requirements, and crisis tools more flexible and easier to manage.
“We need to support Europe’s farmers with rules that are simpler, more proportionate, and better tailored to their needs,” said EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis: “Our measures will help save nearly €1.6 billion per year for Europe’s farmers while making rules and supports easier to navigate. Cutting red tape will move the focus to what matters most – farming, not forms.”
Farmers across the EU are currently subject to heavy administrative obligations, a regulatory burden that is time consuming and generates costs for farmers and national administrations.
The Commission’s ‘targeted solutions’ begin with simplifying the payment scheme for small farmers. To make it more attractive, the annual lump-sum payment limit for small farmers will be increased from €1,250 to €2,500. The purpose of these payments for small farmers is to promote a more balanced distribution of support, strengthen the vitality of rural areas where small farms play a key economic role, and reduce administrative burdens for both farmers and authorities.
These farmers will also be exempted from certain environmental rules (conditionality) while they may benefit from payments that reward eco-friendly farming (eco-schemes).
The Commission also wants to simplify environmental requirements and controls, with the aim of better accommodating ‘diverse farming practices’ and local conditions, while reducing overlap with existing national rules.
For example, certified organic farms will automatically be considered as meeting some of the EU’s environmental requirements for funding.
For more demanding requirements, farmers may benefit from incentives to protect peatlands and wetlands.
To reduce the administrative burden of controls, controls will be streamlined through the use of satellite and technology. In addition, a new principle will be introduced: only one on-the-spot check per year per farm.
There will be strengthened crisis management and simpler procedures for national administrations. EU farmers affected by natural disasters or animal diseases will be better supported thanks to new crisis payments available under CAP Strategic Plans and thanks to more flexible and accessible risk management tools.
Member States will benefit from greater flexibility in adapting their CAP Strategic Plans, with prior approval from the Commission required only for strategic amendments. This is expected to have a positive impact on the farmers who will benefit faster from the changes introduced.
Finally, there will be enhanced competitiveness and digitalisation. Small farmers will find it easier to get financial support through a new simple funding option offering up to €50,000 as a lump-sum to help improve the competitiveness of their farms.
National administrations will be encouraged to develop interoperable digital systems. Following the “report once, use multiple times” principle, the aim is that farmers will only have to submit their data once, through a single system, saving time, cutting administrative costs, and improving farm management.
The next stage is for the legislative proposal to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for adoption.
Questions and Answers on the Common Agricultural Policy simplification package
