Following 30 days of continuous protests across several countries, the European Commission has put forward new measures aimed at alleviating the burdens faced by European farmers.
The protests have led to significant economic losses due to the blockage of main roads, prompting the Commission to simplify requirements and controls for receiving aid.
According to Spain's El Mundo newspaper, the European Commission plans to conduct an online survey from March to May to identify the concerns and burdens of farmers, as well as the complexities arising from the new Common Agricultural Policy rules implemented since January 2023.
The proposed measures, set for discussion with member states at the Agriculture Council on February 26, include simplifying management conditions and environmental compliance requirements for farmers.
This aims to ensure that they do not face reductions in aid from the new Common Agricultural Policy, which can sometimes be challenging to implement.
Farmers with low livestock numbers will no longer be required to convert arable land into pastures.
The Commission will also review agricultural practices that could meet the minimum soil cover requirement to prevent bare soil during sensitive periods, allowing farmers more flexibility in compliance.
Additionally, the European Commission suggests simplifying the methodology of some controls to reduce national administration visits to farms by up to 50%.
The proposal also includes simplifying and clarifying the assessment of area monitoring systems based on the automated analysis of Copernicus satellite images.
This aims to reduce farm inspections, help farmers avoid mistakes and penalties, and ease reporting. With fewer administrative visits, farmers can devote more time to their core work.
The European Commission is also taking steps to improve the position of farmers in the food chain and protect them from unfair trading practices.
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