0
As part of a broader simplification effort, the European Commission has therefore proposed a set of changes to common agricultural policy rules that will relieve farmers from this regulatory burden and stimulate competitiveness.
The proposed changes include
- Easier payments for small farmers
- the annual lump-sum payment limit for small farmers will rise from €1,250 to €2,500
- small farmers will be exempt from certain environmental rules and may benefit from payments that reward eco-friendly farming
- Simplified environmental requirements and controls
- certified organic farms will automatically be considered as meeting some of the EU's environmental requirements for funding
- farmers may benefit from incentives to protect peatlands and wetlands
- controls will be streamlined using satellite and technology and will be limited to one on-the-spot check per year per farm
- Strengthened crisis management and simpler procedures for national administrations
- EU farmers affected by natural disasters or animal diseases will be supported through new crisis payments and more flexible and accessible risk management tools
- EU countries will benefit from greater flexibility in adapting their CAP strategic plans, with prior approval from the Commission required only for strategic amendments
- Enhanced competitiveness and digitalisation
- small farmers can make use of a new simple funding option offering up to €50,000 as a lump-sum to help grow their farms
- national administrations will be encouraged to develop interoperable digital systems, so that farmers will only have to submit their data once, through a single system, saving time and cutting costs
This simplification package builds on similar measures already introduced by the Commission in 2024 and represents a key deliverable from the vision for EU agriculture and food presented in February 2025. The process will continue later this year with a cross-cutting legislative simplification package, targeting other policies impacting farmers, agri-food businesses, and administrations.
14 May 2025Directorate-General for Communication/ European Commission.
https://commission.europa.eu
