The European Union has reached a provisional deal to simplify the bloc’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), easing administrative burdens and increasing flexibility for farmers across Europe, negotiators announced on Monday.
Under the agreement between the European Parliament and the Danish Presidency of the Council, farmers will face no more than one inspection per year, enjoy greater freedom in managing arable land, and benefit from higher financial support ceilings for small-scale operations.
More flexibility for farmers
The new rules will allow land classified as arable on 1 January 2026 to retain that status even if it has not been ploughed, tilled, or reseeded, helping farmers avoid costly and time-consuming procedures while still protecting biodiversity.
Farmers certified as organic will automatically comply with several environmental standards under the CAP, for the organic and in-conversion parts of their holdings. Member States may limit this simplification if additional checks would create excessive administrative burdens.
Lighter inspections and higher aid for small farms
The Parliament also defended the “once-only” inspection principle, ensuring farmers will not face multiple official on-the-spot checks in a single year.
To boost rural incomes, maximum annual payments for small farmers will rise to €3,000, up from the Commission’s proposed €2,500. A one-off business development grant will also increase to €75,000 from €50,000.
“Fairer, clearer, closer to farmers”
Rapporteur André Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal) said the agreement “makes the CAP fairer, clearer, and closer to the people who work the land every day.”
“This agreement brings more support for farmers, more efficient rules for national authorities, and clearer environmental guidance, so that good practices are encouraged instead of punished by confusion or red tape,” Rodrigues added.
The new rules are expected to take effect on 1 January 2026, covering more than nine million farmers across the EU once formally approved by both the Council and Parliament.
The simplification plan stems from the European Commission’s May 2025 package to streamline existing CAP measures, following recommendations from the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture.
Parliament used a simplified legislative procedure to accelerate adoption, reflecting its broader push to reduce administrative burdens for businesses and farmers under the EU’s ongoing “omnibus” competitiveness agenda.
