The European Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to simplify administrative and regulatory requirements under the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP). The reform aims to reduce paperwork for farmers and national authorities while maintaining environmental standards during the current CAP programming period.

Environmental requirements
Under the agreement, farmland classified as arable on 1 January 2026 will retain this status even if it has not been ploughed, tilled, or reseeded in recent years. The measure is intended to support biodiversity and prevent farmers from incurring costs associated with periodic soil disturbance to maintain arable status.

Organic farmers will be considered to comply automatically with several Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) requirements for areas certified as organic or in conversion. Member states may, however, restrict this automatic compliance if it results in excessive administrative work or control difficulties.

Farm inspections
The "once-only" inspection principle has been upheld, meaning that farmers should not undergo more than one official on-the-spot check per year. The rule is designed to reduce repeated administrative inspections across multiple authorities.

Support for small farms
The agreement also increases the financial support available to small-scale farmers. Annual direct payments may reach up to €3,000, while the one-off business development payment will rise to €75,000. Both ceilings are higher than those originally proposed by the European Commission.

Next steps
The preliminary deal requires formal approval from both the European Parliament and the Council before it can take effect. The new rules are expected to apply from 1 January 2026.

Background
The European Commission proposed the CAP simplification package on 14 May 2025, following recommendations from the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to streamline EU regulations and reduce administrative demands across sectors. Parliament has fast-tracked the legislative process to ensure adoption before the next CAP cycle.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com