Implementation dialogue on the common agricultural policy with Commissioner Christophe Hansen

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The Implementation dialogue on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2023-27 was held in Brussels on 3 June 2025 with the participation of stakeholders implementing and affected by the CAP. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Mr Christophe Hansen, chaired the meeting. The dialogue focused on the implementation of the instruments to support farmers’ income, including support for generational renewal and of the payments in favour of environment and climate, and explored potential for simplification in the implementation.

The participants expressed concerns about the complexity of the CAP implementation, particularly regarding the aid application process, which often requires farmers to use advisory support services. This complexity poses challenges, especially for small and diverse farms, in engaging in the schemes in favour of environment and climate. There were also calls to simplify paperwork requirements and eliminate sanctions for minor administrative errors, and to better support small farmers, including through digital solutions and streamlined online portals. Examples were mentioned of incentive models in which the level of support is aligned to the environmental efforts carried out by the farmers.

At the same time, a more harmonised approach for environmental schemes was advocated. Participants called for greater coherence across Member States in the design and implementation of eco-schemes, and for better alignment between EU-level objectives and national implementation practices. The participants also stressed the importance of facilitating the transfer of farms to young farmers, and of investing in the education and training of young people. There is also a need to address the definition of an active farmer, to ensure that those who do not engage in farming do not receive CAP payments. Disparities in the enforcement of social conditionality were highlighted, with stakeholders calling for clearer and more consistent implementation standards across Member States.

Commissioner Hansen concluded the exchanges with key takeaways on the need for support in the implementation of the CAP, the need for effective farm business models, highlighting the importance of generational renewal, of targeting support towards farmers who need it most, of creating stronger incentives for the provision of eco-system services and giving further responsibility and accountability to Member States.

Participants

• Agroecology Europe
• CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers)
• COGECA (General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU)
• COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations)
• EFFAT (European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions)
• ELO (European Landowners' Organization)
• European Coordination Via Campesina
• Euromontana
• GEOPA (Employers' Group of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union)
• IFOAM Organics Europe
• ELARD (European LEADER association for rural development)
• Rural Youth Europe Social partners
• UILA UIL