What the CAP simplification package changes
The European Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional deal on the CAP simplification package, aimed at streamlining the implementation of the current Common Agricultural Policy.
The agreement reduces environmental obligations in agriculture and cuts bureaucratic requirements for farmers during the ongoing CAP programming period.
Key elements of the agreement
The main points of the provisional deal include:
- lighter administrative burdens for farmers and public administrations
- increased support for small farmers and simplified conditionality rules, particularly for organic farms
- fewer on-site inspections and removal of the annual performance review of implementation
Estimated savings and legislative process
According to the European Commission’s assessment, the reform could save farmers more than €1.6 billion per year. The CAP is worth nearly €387 billion, representing almost one third of the EU’s total budget for the 2021–2027 period.
The easing of rules forms part of the broader Omnibus simplification proposals presented by the Commission last May, based on recommendations from the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture. The reform is designed to streamline EU policies and strengthen the competitiveness of agricultural businesses.
The amendments to the current CAP rules must still receive formal approval from both Parliament and Council. Once adopted, the new provisions will apply from 1 January 2026 and affect nearly 9 million farmers across the EU.
“Today we have taken a major step forward in delivering on our promise to simplify EU agricultural rules. Making life easier for farmers will help the agricultural sector grow and strengthen, enhancing competitiveness across Europe. For the Danish presidency, it was therefore a priority to reduce additional workload and remove unnecessary rules for farmers and Member States. I am pleased with the speed at which we reached agreement with Parliament on this important plan,” said Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs.
Fewer environmental constraints
To avoid forcing farmers to plough land every five to seven years in order to maintain its arable status, the agreement establishes that land classified as arable on 1 January 2026 will retain that status even if it has not been ploughed, cultivated or reseeded.
Members of the European Parliament also agreed with the Council that certified organic farmers will automatically be considered compliant with the standards required to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition, the so-called GAEC rules.
Higher support for small farmers
Support for small farmers is a central element of the agreement. Parliament negotiators pushed to raise the ceiling of annual support for this category to €3,000 per year, compared to the €2,500 initially proposed by the Commission.
The one-off grant for small farmers to support business development has also been increased to €75,000, up from the €50,000 proposed by the EU executive.
Fewer on-site inspections
The agreement endorses the Commission’s “single audit” principle. Farmers will therefore not be subject to more than one on-site inspection per year.
Crisis payments
The deal also includes the Commission’s proposal to allow Member States to grant crisis payments to farmers affected by natural disasters, adverse weather events or catastrophic occurrences. These payments aim to ensure the continuity of agricultural activities for affected farmers.
Improvements compared to the Commission proposal
The provisional agreement introduces additional flexibility compared to the original Commission proposal on the CAP simplification package:
- Member States gain greater flexibility in determining to what extent partially organic farms can be considered compliant with certain environmental standards under GAEC rules
- farmers can access enhanced risk management tools
- the agreement provides for increased advance direct payments