The NGO European Environmental Bureau (EEB) announced on Wednesday 18 March that it had lodged a formal complaint with the European Ombudsman concerning the way in which the European Commission has prepared proposals for ‘National and Regional Partnership Plans’ and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028-2034.
The complaint refers to failings that could constitute maladministration, in particular the lack of an adequate impact assessment, the failure to comply with the obligation under European law to ensure climate consistency, and the lack of dedicated public consultation on the CAP.
According to the EEB, these shortcomings contravene the Commission’s guidelines on ‘Better Regulation’. The EEB warns that this lack of transparency and science-based decisions deprives decision-makers, farmers and citizens of a clear vision of the consequences of the reforms for rural areas, the environment and the EU budget.
Similar complaints about the simplification of the CAP in 2024 have already led the Ombudsman to find instances of maladministration. The Commission is called upon to respect its own rules and ensure transparent, evidence-based policies in the public interest. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)