On Monday 27 January, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, spoke to European ministers and confirmed his intention to present a new package to simplify the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
For example, the performance clearance procedure, which has major financial consequences for Member States, will be included in the package and “will be abolished”, the Commissioner promised.
At the EU Council, several ministers called for some of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) to be made more flexible. This is one of the main cross-compliance criteria for agricultural aid. The European Commission will therefore examine the possibility of going further than the simplifications that were approved in 2024.
When preparing the package, the Commission will also look at the results of the two studies that were announced in 2024. The first study examines the difficulties faced by farmers under the CAP. The second study, which is due to be finalised in 2025, will be further used for future reform and will focus on the burden on national administrations brought about by the CAP.
At the EU Council, France asked for changes to be made to GAEC 4 (for it to be refocused on watercourses) and on GAEC 2 (on wetlands and peatlands). Portugal also mentioned GAEC 4. Slovenia focused on GAEC 8 (as well as 9, 6 and 2), while Lithuania focused on GAEC 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Germany has asked for the rules on organic farming to be simplified (see EUROPE 13563/16). Mr Hansen indicated that his services would examine these requests, while also noting the “complexity” of the negotiations on this text. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)