The Commission wants to make EU farm policy simpler and more targeted, striking the right balance between incentives, investment, and regulation, and making sure it complies with the rules. Simplification also results in reducing paperwork for farmers and national authorities.
Nationals plans for CAP implementation
EU CAP for 2023-27 has made a step forward in making things easier for farmers and giving more power to individual countries or regions. This is done through CAP Strategic Plans, which countries design and implement themselves. This lets them shape their own measures and support schemes to better tackle local needs.
More flexible rules
In 2023, EU farmers found some new environmental requirements difficult to comply with. So, in March 2024, the Commission proposed to make the rules more flexible and compatible with farming realities: farms smaller than 10 hectares would be exempt from controls and checks related to these rules.
The European Parliament and the Council adopted the proposal quickly, and the updated rules came into force in May 2024, with retroactive effect for farmers. In 2025, the Commission presented again a large package of measures.
Less paperwork
The Commission has also taken steps to reduce the administrative burden on farmers. As part of updates to a system favouring satellite monitoring vs visit on the spot, farm visits by national inspectors will be reduced by up to 50%.
In May 2024, the Commission also made it easier for farmers hit by extreme weather to get their EU payments, reducing administrative burden for farmers in filing requests and national authorities in processing the payments. In 2025, the Commission presented again a large package of measures targeting the administrative burden, controls, implementation, crisis response and investment needs of the sector.
The Commission also works closely with EU governments. They have a key role in keeping the burden on farmers limited and proportionate to what is needed to achieve the EU’s goals. For farming to be more competitive, what is needed are simpler policies and access to the right tools.
At the same time, meaningful reporting and checks are needed to make sure policy objectives, including environmental goals, are on track to be met. Therefore, the Commission has to strike a balance: let farmers work their land without excessive administrative requirements and make sure EU money is spent correctly.
Looking to the future
The Commission is also in constant contact with farmers’ representatives and other interested groups to discuss current and future agricultural policies and rules. For simplification to be a success, national governments and farmers need to be involved. Reducing the burden on farmers and streamlining the funding rules is a priority now and will continue to be a priority for the next funding period, after 2027.
Disclaimer: the text of this publication is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.
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More information
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