European Commission aims to reduce administrative burden on farmers

The new package pays a lot of attention to smaller agricultural businesses, which should have easier access to European funds and more flexibility to meet environmental standards. The Commission also wants to reduce controls on agricultural businesses. As a rule of thumb, it wants to ensure that farms are inspected by inspectors only once a year.

The Commission strongly believes that its proposals can save farmers more than 1.5 billion euros per year, and governments 210 million euros per year. At the same time, it assures that the green ambitions in the current common agricultural policy will not be undermined by the relaxations.

The member states and the European Parliament must approve the proposals. MEP Wouter Beke (CD&V/EPP) welcomes the measures, which offer farmers “more responsibility and opportunities, instead of locking them into a too strict regulatory straitjacket.” Sara Matthieu (Green/Greens) argues that the Commission is indeed scaling back its green ambitions. “Farmers are receiving subsidies again without making efforts for the environment or nature in their area,” she states.