The first one voted on Tuesday focused on the modifications to GAEC 1 giving Member States the necessary flexibility to consider exceptional structural changes in the conversion of permanent grassland areas. The second one just approved today deals in particular with the conditionality requirements, GAEC 6, 7 and 8, providing more leeway in implementing the CAP considering climatic, geo-political and local conditions whilst safeguarding the transition towards a more sustainable agriculture.
Copa and Cogeca shared the initial European Commission's analysis and supported the proposed simplification measures. The challenging implementation of the new, highly complex CAP in January 2023 compounded by the extreme weather events, geo-political and economic context made it difficult, if not impossible, to meet certain technical or timely requirements.
In this context, the fast adoption by MEPs of the proposals made by the Commission is seen as a positive signal to the urgency of addressing the concerns that farmers have expressed during the past few months when it comes to the administrative burden associated with the implementation of the CAP and to the need for immediate applicable solutions.
Copa and Cogeca now urge Member States to apply the revised rules and come up with the implementing legislation as soon as possible so that these changes can be applied at farm level this year still.
The European Commission should also continue this simplification exercise by following up on their proposals with additional ones as part of the simplification package that was presented on 22nd February. We also call on Member States to use all existing possibilities to simplify the existing national implementing rules to minimise and ease the administrative burden on farmers.
