Farmers across the EU face heavy administrative obligations on top of their actual work. Dealing with them is time consuming and costly for farmers and national administrations alike. 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.
For more information
EU actions to address farmers’ concerns – European Commission
Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature