EU agriculture ministers have agreed on short-term changes to rules on Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) standards to reduce administrative burden for farmers.
The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council yesterday (Monday, February 26), discussed the recently presented “simplification” measures by the European Commission.
The short-term actions endorsed by the council take into account contributions made by EU farming organisations, and input from the agricultural committee of the European Parliament.
GAEC rules
Ministers agreed on changes to the rules on the GAEC 1 standard, which imposes a requirement to keep areas of permanent grassland stable compared to the reference year 2018.
Under GAEC 1, former livestock farmers with large areas of grassland, who had been forced by market disturbances in the meat and dairy sector to shift to arable crop production, could be asked to reconvert their arable land into permanent grassland.
This could lead to a “loss of income” for those farmers, the council said and therefore welcomed the commission’s proposal to change GAEC 1 rules by mid-March.
This would ensure that structural changes caused by a reduction in livestock are taken into account, and that farmers without livestock are not obliged to reconvert arable land to pasture or grassland.
In terms of GAEC 6, the council invited the commission to review the practices that are possible to cover soils. The commission will review this possibility and submit guidelines in April.
The ministers said that the practices to cover soils should be reviewed in order to take into account regional characteristics, so that farmers can benefit from increased flexibility.
The commission previously announced a one-year partial exemption from conditionality rules on fallow land. In order to receive Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) supports, farmers must adhere to GAEC standards.
CAP simplification and clarity
The council agreed that the process of amending CAP strategic plans should be simplified, and insisted that a review of the basic acts of the CAP should be initiated as soon as possible.
Ministers provided political guidance on improving the role of farmers as guarantors of EU food security, while ensuring that environmental sustainability commitments are respected.
This would require targeted modifications of the CAP basic acts, ensuring balance in the effects of trade agreements, and helping Ukrainian agri exports to reach their traditional markets, the council said.
An upcoming survey in March addressed at farmers across the EU proposed by the commission was welcomed by the council. Senator Victor Boyhan also welcomed the survey.
The senator said that “this targeted consultation needs to identify areas of frustration and concern in order to fully understand the administrative burden and complexity of the CAP rules”.
However, he warned that “frustration and resentment” is growing and he called for the feedback of the survey to be fully analysed, published and responded to before autumn 2024.
“Administrative practices and procedures for farmers [need to be] simplified and proportionate while at the same time achieving key and agreed objectives of [the] EU.
“Simplification will only be achieved in a spirit of goodwill and close co-operation with farmers, their representatives and EU member states,” Senator Boyhan said.