Text · Opinion parliamentary committee
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034
Full title
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034
Document REGI-AD-786678 · COM(2025)0560 – C10-0169/2025 – 2025/0241(COD)
- Kind
- Opinion parliamentary committee REGI-AD-786678
- Date
- 16 July 2026
- Committee
- Committee on Regional Development
- Rapporteur
- André Rougé
- Dossier
- 2025-0241
More facts (3)
- Formats
- Official page PDF Word
- Subject matter
- AGRI, D-AL
- Reference
- COM(2025)0560 – C10-0169/2025 – 2025/0241(COD)
In short
A summary of the text written by AI; ¶ opens the paragraph it rests on.
AI: In short Written by AI from the official text — check the source · deepseek-flash · 25 Sept 2026
The Committee on Regional Development gives its opinion to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the proposed regulation on Union support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2028 to 2034. It rejects merging cohesion and CAP funds into National and Regional Partnership Plans and proposes amendments replacing all NRP Plan references with the CAP and CAP Strategic Plans. It asks that CAP and POSEI budgets be ring-fenced and kept at least at the level of the current 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework in constant euro. The amendments add rules on farm stewardship, income support, young farmers, risk management, investments, LEADER, knowledge transfer, outermost regions, the smaller Aegean islands and administrative systems.
Position. The committee proposes rejecting the merger of cohesion and CAP funds into National and Regional Partnership Plans and submits amendments to the CAP regulation that replace NRP Plan references with CAP and CAP Strategic Plan references, ring-fence CAP and POSEI budgets, and add rules on farm stewardship, income support, young farmers, risk management, investments, LEADER, knowledge transfer and outermost regions.
Key points
- The committee opposes merging cohesion and CAP instruments into National and Regional Partnership Plans and proposes keeping them distinct.
- All agriculture provisions in the draft NRP Plans are changed to refer to the new draft CAP regulation, and NRP Plan references in that regulation are replaced by CAP references.
- CAP funds must be ring-fenced, and the amounts for CAP functioning must be at least maintained in constant euro at the level of the current MFF 2021-2027.
- The POSEI scheme for the outermost regions must be maintained and ring-fenced, with amounts at least equivalent in constant euro to the current MFF 2021-2027.
- Farm stewardship rules are set, with exemptions for small farmers, young farmer support and outermost region farmers receiving POSEI support.
- Area-based income support is kept, with a minimum share of direct payments for redistributive support to small and medium-sized farms and at least 5% of income support funds for young farmers.
- Complementary income support for young farmers is granted for a maximum of five years, and Member States must adopt a Strategy on Generational Renewal in Agriculture.
- Support for risk management tools is provided, with a loss threshold of at least 20% of average annual production or income.
- LEADER becomes mandatory in the EAFRD, with a minimum ring-fenced amount of five percent of the current EAFRD and a maximum co-financing rate of 80%.
- At least 30% of the rural areas allocation must be implemented through integrated and participatory territorial instruments such as LEADER, community-led local development and Smart Villages.
- New articles set specific support schemes for the smaller Aegean islands and the outermost regions, including supply arrangements and local production support.
- Member States must set up an integrated administration and control system, and a transition period of up to 18 months may be granted for new monitoring systems.
Who is affected
- Farmers and farm workers, who gain income support, risk management tools and training support under the amended rules.
- Young farmers and new entrants, who get complementary income support, a generational renewal strategy and a minimum share of funds.
- Outermost regions, which keep a maintained and ring-fenced POSEI scheme and specific support interventions.
- The smaller Aegean islands, which receive specific supply arrangements and support for local agricultural products.
- Member States and regional authorities, which must apply the partnership principle and strengthen administrative capacity for rural development.
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 433.01 billion in current prices for the CAP total budget, corresponding to EUR 385.12 billion in 2025 constant prices.
- EUR 320.30 billion for farmers' income support, EUR 106.41 billion for rural areas and EUR 6.30 billion for the Unity Safety Net.
- EUR 7.33 billion allocated to POSEI.
- The MFF for 2028-2034 is set at 1.27% of the European Union's gross national income, with NextGenerationEU debt servicing costs of an additional 0.11% of GNI excluded from that ceiling.
- Planned average aid per hectare for degressive area-based income support must be not less than EUR 130 and not more than EUR 240 per Member State.
- The difference between national average levels of area-based income support per eligible hectare must not exceed EUR 50.
- Support for setting up producer groups, producer organisations or interbranch organisations is limited to 10% of turnover with a maximum of EUR 100 000 per year.
- National base areas for cotton: Bulgaria 3 342 ha, Greece 250 000 ha, Spain 48 000 ha, Portugal 360 ha.
Legal basis. Article 43(2) and Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Text
The text as parsed from the official Word file. Every paragraph has a link (¶) and can be saved to a project as a passage.
Jump to an amendment (206)
- Amendment 1
- Amendment 2
- Amendment 3
- Amendment 4
- Amendment 5
- Amendment 6
- Amendment 7
- Amendment 8
- Amendment 9
- Amendment 10
- Amendment 11
- Amendment 12
- Amendment 13
- Amendment 14
- Amendment 15
- Amendment 16
- Amendment 17
- Amendment 18
- Amendment 19
- Amendment 20
- Amendment 21
- Amendment 22
- Amendment 23
- Amendment 24
- Amendment 25
- Amendment 26
- Amendment 27
- Amendment 28
- Amendment 29
- Amendment 30
- Amendment 31
- Amendment 32
- Amendment 33
- Amendment 34
- Amendment 35
- Amendment 36
- Amendment 37
- Amendment 38
- Amendment 39
- Amendment 40
- Amendment 41
- Amendment 42
- Amendment 43
- Amendment 44
- Amendment 45
- Amendment 46
- Amendment 47
- Amendment 48
- Amendment 49
- Amendment 50
- Amendment 51
- Amendment 52
- Amendment 53
- Amendment 54
- Amendment 55
- Amendment 56
- Amendment 57
- Amendment 58
- Amendment 59
- Amendment 60
- Amendment 61
- Amendment 62
- Amendment 63
- Amendment 64
- Amendment 65
- Amendment 66
- Amendment 67
- Amendment 68
- Amendment 69
- Amendment 70
- Amendment 71
- Amendment 72
- Amendment 73
- Amendment 74
- Amendment 75
- Amendment 76
- Amendment 77
- Amendment 78
- Amendment 79
- Amendment 80
- Amendment 81
- Amendment 82
- Amendment 83
- Amendment 84
- Amendment 85
- Amendment 86
- Amendment 87
- Amendment 88
- Amendment 89
- Amendment 90
- Amendment 91
- Amendment 92
- Amendment 93
- Amendment 94
- Amendment 95
- Amendment 96
- Amendment 97
- Amendment 98
- Amendment 99
- Amendment 100
- Amendment 101
- Amendment 102
- Amendment 103
- Amendment 104
- Amendment 105
- Amendment 106
- Amendment 107
- Amendment 108
- Amendment 109
- Amendment 110
- Amendment 111
- Amendment 112
- Amendment 113
- Amendment 114
- Amendment 115
- Amendment 116
- Amendment 117
- Amendment 118
- Amendment 119
- Amendment 120
- Amendment 121
- Amendment 122
- Amendment 123
- Amendment 124
- Amendment 125
- Amendment 126
- Amendment 127
- Amendment 128
- Amendment 129
- Amendment 130
- Amendment 131
- Amendment 132
- Amendment 133
- Amendment 134
- Amendment 135
- Amendment 136
- Amendment 137
- Amendment 138
- Amendment 139
- Amendment 140
- Amendment 141
- Amendment 142
- Amendment 143
- Amendment 144
- Amendment 145
- Amendment 146
- Amendment 147
- Amendment 148
- Amendment 149
- Amendment 150
- Amendment 151
- Amendment 152
- Amendment 153
- Amendment 154
- Amendment 155
- Amendment 156
- Amendment 157
- Amendment 158
- Amendment 159
- Amendment 160
- Amendment 161
- Amendment 162
- Amendment 163
- Amendment 164
- Amendment 165
- Amendment 166
- Amendment 167
- Amendment 168
- Amendment 169
- Amendment 170
- Amendment 171
- Amendment 172
- Amendment 173
- Amendment 174
- Amendment 175
- Amendment 176
- Amendment 177
- Amendment 178
- Amendment 179
- Amendment 180
- Amendment 181
- Amendment 182
- Amendment 183
- Amendment 184
- Amendment 185
- Amendment 186
- Amendment 187
- Amendment 188
- Amendment 189
- Amendment 190
- Amendment 191
- Amendment 192
- Amendment 193
- Amendment 194
- Amendment 195
- Amendment 196
- Amendment 197
- Amendment 198
- Amendment 199
- Amendment 200
- Amendment 201
- Amendment 202
- Amendment 203
- Amendment 204
- Amendment 205
- Amendment 206
Short justification
As part of the preparations for the next multiannual financial framework 2028-2034, the Commission has presented and defended the creation of National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRP Plans), which would merge policies with very different objectives into a single fund. We are unanimously opposed to this.
If successful, in the current proposals for the post-2027 CAP, the NRP Plans could integrate or coordinate several major cohesion-related policies (ERDF, Cohesion Fund, etc.) but also the common agricultural policy, which is what we are focusing on in this report.
This proposal to merge the funds would undermine the budgetary predictability and transparency required for fund recipients, and would ultimately ruin both the cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy, in addition to potentially pitting fund beneficiaries against one another.
In order to send a strong message to the Commission in this REGI Committee opinion for the AGRI Committee, the rapporteur would firstly like to set out five clear principles for consensus:
Consequently, all of the provisions relating to agriculture in the draft NRP Plans have been changed to refer to the new draft CAP regulation. Similarly, all references to NRP Plans in the articles of the proposed CAP regulation have been deleted and replaced by references to the CAP.
For ease of reference, the original article from the Regulation establishing the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRP Plans) is indicated after each proposed amendment.
3. The amounts earmarked for the functioning of the CAP must at the very least be maintained in constant euro at the level of the current MFF 2021-2027.
The same applies to the complementary CAP component for the outermost regions, POSEI. The Commission’s desire to get rid of this scheme would lead to the collapse of agriculture in our outermost regions.
5. The amounts earmarked for POSEI must at the very least be equivalent in constant euro to the level of the current MFF 2021-2027.
The Committee on Regional Development submits the following to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, as the committee responsible:
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 212(2) thereof, | Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) and Article 349 thereof, |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1) The Commission Communication of 19 February 2025 entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food’4 announces that the common agricultural policy (the ‘CAP’) post-2027 enhances responsibility and accountability for Member States on how they meet the CAP objectives, supporting and stabilising farmers’ incomes and attracting a future generation of farmers, and guaranteeing food security. The new CAP is to be a simpler and more targeted Union common policy, with more flexibility for farmers and a shift from requirements to incentives, for farmers. | (1) The Commission Communication of 19 February 2025 entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food’4 announces that the common agricultural policy (the ‘CAP’) post-2027 enhances responsibility and accountability for Member States on how they meet the CAP objectives, supporting and stabilising farmers’ incomes and attracting a future generation of farmers, and guaranteeing food security. The new CAP is to be a simpler and more targeted Union common policy, with more flexibility for farmers. |
| 4 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS: A Vision for Agriculture and Food: Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations, COM(2025)75 final; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0075. | 4 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS: A Vision for Agriculture and Food: Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations, COM(2025)75 final; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0075. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1a) The Communication emphasises that the future of this strategic sector depends on the Union and its Member States ensuring the protection of workers' rights on farms and throughout the food supply chain, and fostering fair working and living conditions to make the sector more attractive to workers. This includes key tools to address labour shortages and improve the sector's image and attractiveness. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) The multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2028 to 2034 legislative package includes Regulation (EU) .../... of the European Parliament and of the Council [NRP] establishing the National and Regional Partnership Fund (the ‘Fund’) for the period 2028 to 2034, grouping the nationally pre-allocated funds under the Fund, including the European Agriculture Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) established under Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council5 and Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council6 . The Fund should be implemented through National and Regional Partnership Plans (the ‘NRP Plans’) and the EU Facility, which aim at increasing flexibility and cater for crises and interventions that require Union level steering or coordination. This Union support for the CAP will be provided under the Fund, in accordance with the rules governing that Fund set out in Regulation (EU) …/… [NRP]. | (2) The multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2028 to 2034 legislative package includes the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans for the period 2028 to 2034, consisting of nationally pre-allocated funds under the CAP in two pillars, namely the European Agriculture Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) established under Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council5 and Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council6. This Union support for the CAP will be provided under the CAP financial instruments, in accordance with the rules and provisions established by this Regulation. These provisions include key elements such as definitions, mechanisms for co-financing interventions, control and penalty systems, data collection and recording, as well as the Integrated Management and Control System. |
| 5 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on the support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj). | 5 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on the support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj). |
| 6 Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 December 2021on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2116/oj). | 6 Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 December 2021on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2116/oj). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2a) To defend the commonality of the CAP and other Union policies, including Cohesion Policy, and to avoid potential fragmentation of the internal market and distortions of competition, the financial resources assigned to the Common Agricultural Policy should be clearly defined in law, separate in nature and not subject to reallocation. This should cover both the EAGF and the EAFRD, ensuring the long-term financing of rural development and rural communities. The measures established under this Regulation should be supported by a dedicated budgetary envelope within the CAP, which should not be reassigned, transferred or used for purposes other than those set out herein. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2b) The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028–2034 is set at 1.27 % of the European Union’s gross national income (GNI), while the debt servicing costs related to the NextGenerationEU instrument, equivalent to an additional 0.11 % of GNI, are excluded from that ceiling and accounted for over and above it. Within that framework, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) constitutes a distinct instrument with a total budget of EUR 433.01 billion in current prices, corresponding to EUR 385.12 billion in 2025 constant prices. That amount includes EUR 320.30 billion for farmers’ income support, EUR 106.41 billion for rural areas and EUR 6.30 billion for the Unity Safety Net. In addition, EUR 7.33 billion is allocated to the POSEI. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2c) To ensure balanced territorial development and to avoid unintended negative effects on rural communities, interventions under the Common Agricultural Policy should take into account their territorial impact, in particular on rural areas. This contributes to ensuring that CAP measures are adapted to the specific needs and challenges of different territories. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2d) Rural Development encompasses both agricultural as well as structural development. The CAP should support rural communities in all categories of regions including less developed, transition and more developed regions, accounting for their specific challenges and opportunities. To fulfil the Union’s commitment to the sustainable development of rural areas, a sufficient percentage of the Union’s total expenditure should be invested specifically in rural development through the EAFRD. Stable co-financing rates at least at the level of the 2021-2027 funding period should ensure high absorption and accessibility of both pillars of the CAP. Cohesion policy spending in rural areas should not count towards this amount and be considered hors quota. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3) With regards to agriculture, the general objective of the Fund referred to in Article 3, point (c), of Regulation (EU) .../... [NRP] recalls the objectives established in Article 39 TFEU. The CAP specific objectives directly contribute to sustaining Union’s quality of life and are to be implemented by the Member States through their NRP Plans. | (3) The objectives of this Regulation are consistent with those laid down in Article 39 TFEU. The CAP specific objectives directly contribute to sustaining Union’s quality of life and are to be implemented by the Member States, in close cooperation with local and regional authorities, through their CAP Strategic Plans. In the context of the new geopolitical and security challenges, as well as the significant increase in the costs of agricultural inputs, particularly energy and fertilisers, the CAP must place food security at the heart of the European Union’s priorities; this should strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector, support farmers in the face of economic pressures and ensure that the Union’s production capacity is maintained through productive soils, high-quality water that is used efficiently and regenerative practices, while also guaranteeing access for citizens to safe, sufficient and affordable food. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) In order to ensure that the Union adequately addresses the most pressing challenges for the agricultural sector, it is appropriate to provide for a steering mechanism reflecting the orientations of the Vision for Agriculture and Food for a targeted policy. To advance towards a competitive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, in line with the outcome of the stakeholders’ consultations, the CAP national recommendations should provide a sufficient level of policy steering at Union level, to guide Member States in the design of their NRP Plans as regards agriculture, defining the relevant interventions on the basis of their specific challenges and needs. | (4) In order to ensure that the Union adequately addresses the most pressing challenges for the agricultural sector, it is appropriate to provide for a steering mechanism reflecting the orientations of the Vision for Agriculture and Food and the recommendations from the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture for a targeted policy. To advance towards a competitive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, in partnership with local and regional authorities, and in alignment with stakeholders’ consultations, the CAP national and regional recommendations should provide a sufficient level of policy steering at Union level, to guide Member States, and local and regional authorities, in the design of their CAP Strategic Plans as regards agriculture, defining the relevant interventions on the basis of their specific challenges and needs, reflecting the specific characteristics of the individual Member States and their agricultural sectors. The involvement of the regional and local authorities, as well as the economic and social partners, including those representing rural areas, in the preparation and implementation and monitoring of their CAP Strategic Plans should contribute to strengthening multi-level governance, improving policy design and ensuring that interventions adequately reflect the specific needs and challenges of rural and insular territories. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5) To ensure a level playing field and common framework for support for the Union agricultural sector, Member States should define the elements of the framework taking into account the local specificities and needs with the CAP objectives in mind, while the Union should provide the common framework for a policy that supports those who need it most. | (5) To ensure a level playing field and common framework for support for the Union agricultural sector, Member States in partnership with local and regional authorities should define the elements of the framework taking into account the local and regional specificities and needs with the CAP objectives in mind, while the Union should provide the common framework for a policy that supports those who need it most. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5a) The outermost regions have specific assets but also face permanent structural constraints, recognised by Article 349 of the TFEU, such as remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate, that significantly affect agricultural production conditions, increase costs and limit competitiveness. Therefore, the concerned Member States should include measures to support each outermost region in their CAP Strategic Plan to address the outermost regions’ specific needs and challenges, accompanied by a dedicated and adequate financial allocation. The support provided under this Regulation should ensure coordination and complementarity with the specific programme for the outermost regions, the POSEI, established by Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council8a, which should be maintained and strengthened at Union level, in order to continue addressing the structural challenges faced by those regions and to contribute to the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union. Given that the POSEI budget has not been updated since 2007 and that agricultural production costs in these regions – which are particularly vulnerable to external factors – have risen significantly, it is important to allocate EUR 7.33 billion to POSEI, in accordance with the interim report approved by the European Parliament on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2028 to 2034. | |
| 8a Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 247/2006 (OJ L 78, 20.3.2013, p. 23, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/228/oj). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5b) The measures should include support to guarantee supply of products essential for human consumption or for processing and, for agricultural inputs, mitigation of the additional costs incurred due to their extreme remoteness and/or insularity, without harming local production and the growth thereof. The measures should also include support for securing the long-term future and development of agriculture, including the production, processing, marketing and sale of local crops and products, and the diversification of food production, with a particular focus on food security and self-sufficiency, and maintaining and strengthening those sectors’ competitiveness. In addition, the measures should include support, including compensations, for specific supply arrangements for agriculture and support to local agricultural production and processing. It should be possible for Member States to grant additional financing for the implementation of that support. As State aid, the Commission should be notified of such financing, and the Commission can approve it under this Regulation as part of that support. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6) The CAP has showed a positive impact on generational renewal in agriculture, but there remain obstacles, in particular as regards the provision of basic infrastructure and services in rural areas, access to land and social safety net for young as well as for retiring farmers. To address the specific needs of young farmers and new entrants, each Member State should be required to set in the NRP Plan a strategy for generational renewal that should be based on the assessment of the specific national context, in line with the Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food, which prioritises the long-term sustainability and attractiveness of the EU's farming and agri-food sector. The Member States should also develop a comprehensive "starter pack" for young farmers, designed to facilitate the entry and establishment of young farmers in the sector, including a comprehensive package of interventions targeting young farmers. | (6) The CAP has showed a positive impact on generational renewal in agriculture, but there remain obstacles, in particular as regards the provision of basic infrastructure and services in rural areas, including in mountainous, island, border, remote and depopulating areas, access to land, capital, finance, and social safety net for young as well as for retiring farmers. To address the specific needs of young farmers and new entrants, it is essential to provide them with adequate and targeted support. To this end, a minimum share of financial resources allocated to income support should be dedicated to young farmers, building on the experience from the 2023–2027 programming period. Each Member State, in partnership with local and regional authorities, should be required to set in their CAP Strategic Plan a strategy for generational renewal that should be based on the assessment of the specific national context, in line with the Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food, which prioritises the long-term sustainability and attractiveness of the EU's farming and agri-food sector. The Member States, in partnership with local and regional authorities, should also develop a comprehensive "starter pack" for young farmers, designed to facilitate the entry and establishment of young farmers in the sector, including a comprehensive package of interventions targeting young farmers. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7) In line with the objective of achieving a better balance between incentives and requirements, Member States should target support through their NRP Plans towards CAP priorities, which are essential for the long-term sustainability of agriculture. The CAP post-2027 should accelerate the transition towards more sustainable production methods, contributing to climate-neutrality objective by 2050. The new CAP should offer better rewards for delivering more ambitious ecosystem services which go beyond the results achieved through mandatory requirements. The new CAP should strike a new balance between a farm stewardship with a set of mandatory requirements, and agri-environmental and climate actions which support commitments beneficial for the environment, climate and animal welfare and a transition towards more resilient production systems. | (7) In line with the objective of achieving a better balance between incentives and requirements, Member States should target support through their CAP Strategic Plans towards CAP priorities, which are essential for the long-term sustainability of agriculture. The CAP post-2027 should accelerate the transition towards more sustainable production methods, contributing to climate-neutrality objective by 2050. The new CAP should offer better rewards for delivering more ambitious ecosystem services which go beyond the results achieved through mandatory requirements. The new CAP should strike a new balance between a farm stewardship with a set of mandatory requirements, and agri-environmental and climate actions, on a voluntary basis, which support commitments beneficial for the environment, climate and animal welfare and a transition towards more resilient production systems. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7a) In order to support a just transition, co-financing rates for should remain stable and at least at the level of the 2021-2027 funding period. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7b) In order to ensure budgetary efficiency of limited funds, the commission should ensure policy coherence and consistency within and between the NRP Plans in a verification stage before final publication of the NRP Plans, specifically looking at externalities and doubled expenditures and costs, for example with regard to environmental pollution and impacts on public and environmental health, ensuring that expenditure in one area does not lead to further expenditure in another. The precautionary principle should apply, and the coherence and consistency check should also verify that compared to the previous programming period there is no backsliding in the high standard of protection for the environment and public health assured in the Treaty. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8) The farm stewardship should be established to guarantee compliance of the CAP support with the "do no significant harm" principle laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council7 . The farm stewardship should comprise minimum environmental and social conditionality requirements, as well as protective practices designed by Member States to deliver on key objectives such as protection of soils and river courses from pollution. Member States should have the flexibility to adapt those protective practices to their specific geographical and climatic context and production systems including by establishing exemptions. To promote socially sustainable agriculture, certain CAP payments require compliance with standards on working and employment conditions, occupational safety and health. The European Charter and diverse national frameworks and labour market models should be respected, no additional obligations should be imposed on social partners or Member States regarding enforcement or controls and double corrections avoided. | (8) The farm stewardship should be established to guarantee compliance of the CAP support with the "do no significant harm" principle laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council7, with the exception of small farmers. The farm stewardship should comprise minimum environmental and social conditionality requirements, as well as protective practices designed by Member States to deliver on key objectives such as protection of biodiversity, soils and river courses from pollution and sustainable use of natural resources. Such protective practices should be designed and implemented in a manner that does not impose disproportionate administrative or economic burdens on farmers, nor undermine viable agricultural production or food security or safety, while ensuring simplification and reduced compliance costs, in particular for small and medium-sized farms. To this end, encouragement should be given to the use of digital tools, agricultural advice and financial incentives to ensure compliance. Member States as well as local and regional authorities should ensure that farm stewardship requirements are applied proportionately, and should have the flexibility to adapt those protective practices to their specific geographical and climatic context and production systems including by providing additional support in areas subject to natural constraints or those designated as environmentally sensitive sites and by establishing exemptions for specific farming sectors or systems. The achievement of more ambitious environmental and climate goals under the CAP should be ensured on the basis of a system of incentives combined with the guarantee of an adequate earmarked budget, with no option of using this budget for a different area of support. Agricultural producers should be adequately compensated for the move towards more sustainable production. To promote socially sustainable agriculture and raise labour standards in the sector, certain CAP payments require compliance with standards on working and employment conditions, occupational safety and health. The European Charter and diverse national frameworks and labour market models should be respected, no additional obligations should be imposed on social partners, local and regional authorities or Member States regarding enforcement or controls and double corrections avoided. |
| 7 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast) (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj. | 7 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast) (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (9) Income support for farmers should continue to be the central policy instrument to guarantee a fair income to farmers and sustainable farming and food production. It should contribute to fostering a competitive and resilient agricultural sector pursuing the benefits of high-quality production and resource-efficiency, while ensuring generational renewal and thus long-term food security. Income support allocations should be ringfenced to be used for Income support for farmers only, to provide stability and predictability for the Union agricultural sector. In order to ensure high impact and efficiency, the new CAP should entail a streamlined and consistent toolbox of Income support types of intervention enabling Member States to deliver on the CAP objectives. | (9) Income support for farmers should be the central policy instrument to guarantee a fair income to farmers, respect for workers' rights and support sustainable farming and food production. It is therefore important to ensure that adequate financial resources are available for the CAP, and also to maintain its two pillars. The CAP should contribute to fostering a competitive, fair and resilient agricultural sector pursuing the benefits of high-quality production and resource-efficiency, while ensuring generational renewal, quality jobs and thus long-term food security. Income support allocations should be ringfenced to be used for Income support for farmers only, to provide stability and predictability for the Union agricultural sector. In order to ensure high impact and efficiency, the new CAP should entail a streamlined and consistent toolbox of Income support types of intervention enabling Member States to deliver on the CAP objectives. A minimum share of direct payments to redistributive income support for small and medium-sized farms should be allocated. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (9a) The rural development interventions set out under the second pillar of the CAP, which complement income support for farmers, are of strategic importance to the Union, in that they help to support investment in farms and to maintain and develop agricultural activity, particularly in areas subject to natural or specific constraints. Such interventions promote farm modernisation and innovation, enhance the attractiveness and vitality of rural areas through investment in infrastructure, connectivity and essential services, ensure the sustainable management of natural resources, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation, contribute to territorial cohesion by revitalising the economic and social fabric of rural communities, and promote generational renewal in the agricultural sector by facilitating young farmers’ access to the sector and to the support instruments available. An amount at least at the volume of the current EAFRD should therefore be ringfenced for the second pillar of the CAP. The EAFRD should foster a balanced territorial development and social cohesion in rural economies and communities. For this purpose, the EAFRD should not be limited to benefitting farmers, but the entirety of rural communities. The regions should have the capacity to design, implement and manage rural development measures autonomously, while respecting the constitutional specificities of each Member State. The regionalised architecture under the second pillar of the CAP should therefore be reinstated in the period 2028-2034, with regional managing authorities and dedicated monitoring committees. It essential to re-establish a direct and structured channel of communication between regional governments and the European Commission, ensuring effective coordination and full respect for the principle of subsidiarity within the Union. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10) Given the need to target the support to those most in need, Member States should pay the area-based degressive income support only to those persons whose principal activity is agriculture, while ensuring that small and pluri-active farmers, who are engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity, are not excluded. | (10) Given the need to target the support to those most in need, Member States should pay the area-based income support only to those persons whose principal activity is agriculture, while ensuring that small and pluri-active farmers, who are engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity, are not excluded. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (11) Recognising the need for more farm resilience and risk management, support should be granted to improve the ability of farmers to withstand increasing risks and crises, such as those related to the climate change or market instability, to enable farmers to participate in risk management tools, including support for insurance premiums and contributions to mutual funds in all Member States. A proactive approach to risk management reinforcing the sector's resilience should be promoted by fixing appropriate maximum support rates, with incentives for farmers who implement risk preventive measures. | (11) Recognising the need for more resilience and risk management in rural areas, support should be granted to improve the ability of farmers and rural communities to withstand increasing risks and crises, such as those related to the climate change or market instability, to enable farmers and rural communities to participate in risk management tools, including support for insurance premiums and contributions to mutual funds in all Member States. A proactive approach to risk management reinforcing the sector's resilience, including water resilience, should be promoted by fixing appropriate maximum support rates, with incentives for farmers who implement risk preventive measures. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (12) The CAP objectives should also be pursued through support for investments implemented by farmers and forest holders. Such investments may concern, inter alia, infrastructures related to the development, modernisation or adaptation to climate change of agriculture and forestry, agro-forestry practices, energy and water, installation of digital technologies in agriculture, precision farming, diversification of income sources in other activities such as agro-tourism and bioeconomy. It should also be possible to support investments in the restoration of agricultural or forestry production potential following natural disasters, adverse climatic events or catastrophic events, including fires, storms, floods, pests and diseases. | (12) The CAP objectives should also be pursued through support for investments implemented by farmers and forest holders as well as rural communities, groups of actors involving farmers as well as public authorities and other local stakeholders affected by agricultural activity, notably to finance projects beyond the individual farm level. Such investments may concern, inter alia, infrastructures related to the development, modernisation or adaptation to climate change of agriculture and forestry, agro-forestry practices, energy and integrated and digitalised water management – including the modernisation of irrigation systems and the construction and redevelopment of strategic water infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs and multi-purpose storage basins, as well as installation of digital technologies in agriculture, precision farming, diversification of income sources in other activities such as agro-tourism and bioeconomy. It should also be possible to support investments in the restoration of agricultural or forestry production potential following natural disasters, adverse climatic events or catastrophic events, including fires, storms, floods, pests and diseases. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (12a) In granting support, Member States should give particular consideration to investments improving physical and digital connectivity of rural, border and peripheral regions, where such investments contribute to enhancing access to markets, services, innovation, water and energy infrastructure, and the uptake of digital and precision farming technologies. Such investments should aim at strengthening agricultural competitiveness, crisis resilience, food security and generational renewal, in particular in regions affected by structural disadvantages, including remoteness, insularity, mountainous terrain or demographic decline. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (13) Recognising the necessity for farmers to balance the professional duties with personal and family responsibilities, it should be possible to provide support for farm relief services facilitating replacement of farmers during leave for sickness, childbearing, holidays or in case of training participation. It should be possible to support establishment of these services as well as wages for temporary workers replacing the farmer. | (13) Recognising the necessity for farmers to balance the professional duties with personal and family responsibilities, it should be possible to provide support for farm relief services facilitating replacement of farmers during leave for sickness, childbearing, holidays or in case of training participation. It should be possible to support establishment of these services as well as to cover remuneration for temporary workers replacing the farmer. Furthermore, in order to improve and facilitate participation in training and lifelong learning on the side of employees, such services should provide support also to farm workers taking part in training and education measures by means of support for continued payment of wages for time of their duration. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (13a) Technical assistance should support public authorities, Local Action Groups, advisory services, civil society organisations and other stakeholders involved in CAP implementation, monitoring and evaluation. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (14) To foster social, economic, environmental and digital transition in rural areas Member States should ensure that LEADER is supported. It should be possible to grant support under the NRP Plans to quality schemes and promotion activities, short supply chain and local market development. | (14) To foster social, economic, environmental and digital transition in rural areas Member States should ensure that LEADER is supported and properly implemented as a place-based local development strategy by Member States and the Local Action Groups. It should be mandatory to grant support under the CAP Strategic Plans within the EAFRD to quality schemes and promotion activities, agricultural product processing, short supply chain and local market development, as a crucial element of food security in the European Union. A minimum ringfenced amount for LEADER of five percent of the current EAFRD as part of the current 2021-2027 EAFRD should be carried over into the new funding period to ensure the continuation of the important and innovative work being carried out by local action groups in rural areas in Europe. LEADER should be a mandatory part of the EAFRD in all member states, and all rural areas, and continue to benefit from preferential co-financing rates to enable the active participation of citizens in their rural communities. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (14a) In order to maximise the impact of support for rural areas and ensure a coherent and integrated approach to territorial development, it is necessary to allocate an important share of the resources to integrated and participatory territorial instruments. Such instruments, including LEADER, community-led local development (CLLD), Smart Villages initiatives and other place-based, multi-sectoral integrated territorial strategies, are essential to mobilise local potential, foster synergies across policy areas and address the specific economic, social, demographic and environmental challenges of rural and insular areas. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (14b) To ensure the effective implementation of interventions targeting rural areas, it is essential that the relevant authorities possess adequate administrative capacity to design and implement integrated, place-based strategies which require strong coordination, technical expertise and stakeholder involvement at local level. Strengthening administrative capacity, in particular through training, technical assistance, digitalisation and knowledge exchange, is therefore necessary to enhance the quality, coherence and impact of rural development interventions. Additionally, to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of rural development interventions, it is important to enable LEADER local action groups to contribute to integrated, place-based approaches. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (17) In order to supplement the non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission. In order to ensure legal certainty, power should be delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation with measures ensuring that interoperability and seamless data exchange between information systems used for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CAP are implemented by the Member States. | (17) In order to supplement the non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission. In order to ensure legal certainty, power should be delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation with measures ensuring that interoperability and seamless data exchange between information systems used for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CAP are implemented by the Member States in partnership with local and regional authorities. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| In order to ensure a strong, sustainable and resilient common agricultural policy, Union food security, generational renewal and vibrant rural areas, this Regulation lays down specific conditions for the implementation of the Union support for the common agricultural policy (CAP) in accordance with the general objective laid down in Article 2, point (c), of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]. | In order to ensure a strong, sustainable and resilient common agricultural policy, Union food security, the competitiveness of the European agri-food sector, generational renewal, fair working and employment conditions, and vibrant rural economies and communities, this Regulation lays down specific conditions for the implementation of the Union support for the common agricultural policy (CAP) in accordance with the objectives established in Articles 39 and 43 TFEU, and without prejudice to the specific measures set out in Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (POSEI). This Union support for the CAP shall be implemented in accordance with this Regulation. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 1a | |
| Definitions | |
| For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply: | |
| (1) ‘farmer’ means a natural or legal person whose holding is situated in the Union and whose principal activity is agricultural activity in accordance with the criteria defined by the Member States in line with this Regulation; or a natural person or small legal person whose principal activity is not agriculture but who is engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity, as defined by Member States; | |
| (2) ‘operation’, in the context of the CAP, means a payment granted to farmers under area- and animal-based CAP income support interventions referred to in Article 5 [Types of support]; | |
| (3) ‘Agricultural Knowledge and Information system’ or ‘AKIS’ means the combined organisation and knowledge flows between persons, organisations and institutions who use and produce knowledge and innovations for agriculture and interrelated fields referred to in Article 20 of this Regulation; | |
| (4) ‘organic farming’ means organic production system certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council; | |
| (5) ‘the smaller Aegean Islands’ means any islands in the Aegean Sea except the islands of Crete and Evia; | |
| (6) ‘holding’ means all the units used for agricultural activities and managed by a farmer and situated within the territory of the same Member State, within the territorial scope of the Treaties, as defined in Article 52 TEU in conjunction with Articles 349 and 355 TFEU; | |
| (7) Member States shall further establish in their CAP Strategic Plans the definitions of ‘agricultural activity’, ‘agricultural area’, ‘eligible hectare’, and ‘young farmer’ in accordance with objective and non-discriminatory criteria and the principle of proportionality. | |
| (a) ‘agricultural activity’ shall be determined through one or both of the following activities: | |
| (i) production of agricultural products, which consists of all activities aimed at obtaining those products, where ‘agricultural products’ means products listed in Annex I to the TFEU, with the exception of fishery products, as well as cotton and short rotation coppice; | |
| (ii) where duly justified for animal welfare or environmental reasons, extensive grazing of an agricultural area that does not result in an increase of agricultural production for the farmers concerned may also be considered ‘maintenance'. | |
| (b) ‘agricultural area’ shall be defined in such a way as to comprise only land which is used for agricultural activities, including when it forms agroforestry systems; | |
| (c) ‘eligible hectare’ shall be defined in such a way as to comprise only areas which are at the farmers’ disposal and which comprise: | |
| (i) agricultural areas on which an agricultural activity is performed under the farmer’s control in terms of management, benefits and financial risks. If non-agricultural activities are also performed on these areas, the agricultural activity shall be predominant; | |
| (ii) areas for which support is provided under Article 5(1), points (a) and (g), degressive income support, small farmers of this Regulation, or under the basic income support for sustainability under Title III, Chapter II, Section 2, Subsection 2, (BISS) all incl. entitlements, small farmers scheme, of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, where agricultural activity is not performed due to commitments and obligations arising from Union or national interventions or other programmes which contribute to the environmental and climate-related CAP specific objectives; | |
| (iii) Member States may decide to include in the notion of ‘eligible hectare’ landscape features not covered by the commitments and schemes referred to in point (ii), provided that these landscape features do not significantly hamper the performance of agricultural activity and are not predominant on the agricultural parcel; | |
| (d) ‘young farmer’ shall be defined in such a way as to fulfil at least the following conditions: (i) an upper age limit set between 35 years and 40 years; (ii) being ‘head of the holding’. | |
| Where a farmer is deemed to fall within the definition of ‘young farmer’ at the moment of first access to support, that status shall be maintained for the full duration of the period of eligibility established under the relevant support scheme, irrespective of the farmer subsequently exceeding the upper age limit. | |
| (8) ‘new farmer’ shall be determined in such a way as to refer to a farmer other than a young farmer who is ‘head of the holding’ for the first time. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| CAP national recommendations and steering | CAP national and regional recommendations and steering |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The Commission shall adopt CAP national recommendations providing guidance to each Member State for the implementation of the CAP-relevant specific objectives set out in Article 3, point (d), of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP], within their NRP Plans in line with Article 22 of that Regulation in advance of the submission of the NRP Plans by the Member States. The CAP national recommendations shall be based on the following: | 1. Following prior consultation with the recognised bodies and stakeholders of each Member State, the Commission shall adopt recommendations providing guidance to each Member State and their regions, where applicable, for the implementation of the relevant specific objectives set out in their CAP Strategic Plans in advance of the submission of the CAP Strategic Plans by the Member States. The CAP national recommendations shall also take into account regional specificities and be based on the following: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) contribution to fair and sufficient income for farmers and their long-term competitiveness, including the farmers’ position in the value chain; | (a) contribution to fair and sufficient income for farmers, farm workers, and the sector's long-term competitiveness, including the farmers’ position in the value chain, to ensure economic resilience and attractiveness of agriculture; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (aa) fostering a balanced territorial development and social cohesion in rural economies and communities through an integrated approach, including through community led local development, LEADER, and other initiatives aiming at stimulating local economic development, local processing capacity and short supply chains, and increasing population retention, attractiveness and added value in rural areas; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) improvement of attractiveness of the profession and foster generational renewal; | (b) improvement of attractiveness of the profession, promotion of fair employment and working conditions and fostering generational renewal, including by supporting young people’s access to resources and know-how for sustainable agricultural practices; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ba) fostering gender equality, strengthening the socio-economic position of women in agriculture and rural areas, and removing structural disadvantages; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) improving resilience, farmers’ preparedness and ability to cope with crises and risks; | (d) improving resilience, including water resilience, farmers’ preparedness and ability to cope with crises and risks, including those caused by climate change related extreme weather phenomena, natural disasters and food chain disruption; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ea) increasing farmers’ competitiveness and ensuring a fair and stable income for them, notably by improving their position in the agri-food value chain, by supporting agricultural product processing sectors and short supply chains, by stimulating investment in modernisation and innovation, by facilitating access to markets and risk management tools, and by promoting a level playing field at Union level. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The CAP national recommendations may be updated by the Commission, as appropriate. | The CAP national and regional recommendations may be updated by the Commission, as appropriate, in consultation with the Member States and regional authorities, where applicable, involving the relevant bodies and stakeholders. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The Commission shall base the CAP national recommendations on an analysis of the situation of the agricultural sector and rural areas, including demographic factors, structural and territorial characteristics as well as food security in each Member State. | 2. The Commission shall base the CAP national and regional recommendations on an analysis of the situation of the agricultural sector and rural areas, including demographic factors, structural and territorial characteristics, including challenges faced by eastern border regions, as well as food security and safety in each Member State. Those recommendations shall be grounded in an evidence-based assessment of needs, also taking into account regional specificities, and giving particular attention to the state of the development of territorial supply chains and direct marketing, socio-economic factors including the situation of young farmers, as well as the territorial cohesion and socio-economic vitality of rural areas. In this context, the Commission should take due account of the different soil and climate conditions, as well as the specific needs of the outermost regions. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. In the CAP national recommendations, the Commission shall in particular identify key challenges to be addressed by each Member State in their NRP Plan, on the basis of the CAP-relevant specific objectives set out in Article 3, point (d), of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]. | 3. In the CAP national and regional recommendations, the Commission shall in particular identify key challenges to be addressed by each Member State and its regions, where applicable, in their CAP Strategic Plan, on the basis of the relevant specific objectives set out in Article 3, point (d), of this Regulation |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3a. The Commission shall ensure that all national and regional recommendations, including preliminary recommendations and updates, adopted pursuant to this Article are made publicly available in a timely and accessible manner, to guarantee transparency and facilitate stakeholder engagement. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3b. The Commission shall ensure that all national and regional recommendations, including preliminary recommendations and updates, adopted pursuant to this Article are made publicly available in a timely and accessible manner, to guarantee transparency and facilitate stakeholder engagement. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3c. In preparing and implementing the CAP chapter of their NRP Plans, Member States, or where applicable competent regional managing authorities, shall apply the partnership principle by ensuring the meaningful involvement of local authorities, economic and social partners including farmers' organisations and agricultural workers' trade unions, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders at national or regional level, in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 2a | |
| Specific requirements for CAP interventions | |
| 1. Member States shall provide for each intervention in their Plans: | |
| (a) the type of intervention on which it is based, the territorial scope and the type of area targeted by the intervention; | |
| (b) where applicable, sectors targeted by the intervention or group of farmers or other beneficiaries targeted under the intervention, CAP environment and climate priority area, in accordance with Article 4 [Environment and climate priority areas] of this Regulation; | |
| (c) An explanation of the relevant criteria of Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture as referred to in Article 40 [WTO domestic support] and in Annex XVII [WTO annex] of the NRPP Regulation; | |
| (d) A description of the design of the intervention, including the eligibility conditions, and for agri-environmental and climate actions referred to in Article 10 of this Regulation; | |
| (e) a description of farming practices covered by the intervention based on the Joint Research Centre classification of farming practices in accordance with Article 20 of this Regulation; | |
| (f) in relation to the interventions in certain sectors referred to in Part II, Title I, Chapter IIa of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, justification for targeting the selected sectors and complementarity with other CAP interventions, and where relevant, with other measures set out in the Plan; | |
| (g) In Member States with regional governance structures, the interventions referred to in article 5, paragraph 1, points (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m) and (n), may be designed, managed and implemented at regional level by competent regional managing authorities, in accordance with the regional chapters of the NRP Plans as provided for under Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]. | |
| 2. Member States shall determine the amount of support for transitional actions referred to in Article 10 [agri-environmental practices] of this Regulation based on cost estimates set out in the transition plans. The support shall be limited to EUR 200 000 per farmer per programming period of the Plan. | |
| 3. Where public support granted under Article 13 of this Regulation for an investment operation does not exceed EUR 100 000 and is not subject to rules on public procurement, that support shall take the form of standard scales of unit costs, lump sums or flat rates. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Farm stewardship shall comprise statutory management requirements listed in Annex I, Part A [Annex with SMRs], protective practices defined by Member States in the NRP Plan in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article and Annex I, Part C, and the social conditionality system which comprises the statutory management requirements listed in Annex I, Part B. | 1. Farm stewardship shall comprise statutory management requirements listed in Annex I, Part A [Annex with SMRs], protective practices defined by Member States in their CAP Strategic Plan in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article and Annex I, Part C, and the social conditionality system which comprises the statutory management requirements listed in Annex I, Part B. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| However, the conditions of farm stewardship listed in Annex I, Parts A and C, shall not apply to farmers receiving support under Article 5(1), point (g). | However, the conditions of farm stewardship listed in Annex I, Parts A and C, shall not apply to small farmers and farmers receiving support under Article 5(1), points (aa – “complementary income support for young farmers”) and (g - “payment for small farmers”), and to farmers in the outermost regions receiving support under Regulation (EU) No 228/2013. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Member States shall define in accordance with Annex I, Part C, at a national or regional level, protective practices to be respected by farmers and other beneficiaries receiving the support referred to in paragraph 2, to achieve the following objectives: | 4. Member States shall define in accordance with Annex I, Part C, at a national and regional level, where applicable, protective practices to be respected by farmers and other beneficiaries receiving the support referred to in paragraph 2, to achieve the following objectives: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Member States shall include in the NRP Plan a description of the protective practices defined for each of the objectives set out in paragraph 4 including their territorial scope, farmers and other beneficiaries subject to the practice and a summary of the protective practice. In setting the protective practices, Member States shall take utmost account of the CAP national recommendations referred to in Article 2. Member States shall adapt the protective practices to different land management systems and different environmental and climatic conditions in their territory. | 5. Member States shall, where applicable in partnership with local and regional authorities, and following consultation of recognised bodies and stakeholders, include in the CAP Strategic Plan a description of the protective practices defined for each of the objectives set out in paragraph 4 including their territorial scope, farmers and other beneficiaries subject to the practice and a summary of the protective practice. In setting the protective practices, Member States shall take utmost account of the CAP national recommendations referred to in Article 2. Member States and local and regional authorities shall adapt the protective practices to different land management systems and different environmental and climatic conditions in their territory. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Farmers whose entire holding is certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council10 shall be deemed to comply with protective practices set out in the NRP Plans in respect to objectives set out in paragraph 4, points (b) and (c). | 6. Farmers whose entire holding is certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council10 shall be deemed to comply with protective practices set out in the CAP Strategic Plans in respect to objectives set out in paragraph 4, points (b) and (c). |
| 10 Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (OJ L 150 14.6.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/oj). | 10 Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (OJ L 150 14.6.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/oj). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7. In setting the protective practices referred to in paragraph 4, Member States may establish in their NRP Plan specific exemptions from those protective practices based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria, such as crops, soil types and farming systems or damage to permanent grasslands due, inter alia, to wild animals or invasive species. Those specific exemptions shall be limited in terms of their area coverage, shall be established only in the event, and to the extent, that they are necessary to address specific problems in the application of those practices and shall not hamper the objectives set out in paragraph 4 or distort competition. | 7. In setting the protective practices referred to in paragraph 4, Member States, where applicable, in partnership with local and regional authorities may establish in their CAP Strategic Plan specific exemptions from those protective practices based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria, such as crops, soil types and farming systems or damage to permanent grasslands due, inter alia, to wild animals or invasive species. Those specific exemptions shall be limited in terms of their area coverage, shall be established only in the event, and to the extent, that they are necessary to address specific problems in the application of those practices and shall not hamper the objectives set out in paragraph 4 or distort competition. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 9. Member States may recognise the management practices under agri-environmental and climate actions referred to in Article 10(1), point (a), that contribute to the objectives set out in paragraph 4 of this Article in an equivalent way as the relevant protective practices established in the NRP Plan pursuant to that paragraph. Member States may deem farmers and other beneficiaries who commit to implement those equivalent practices to be compliant with the relevant protective practice. | 9. Member States may recognise the management practices under agri-environmental and climate actions referred to in Article 10(1), point (a), that contribute to the objectives set out in paragraph 4 of this Article in an equivalent way as the relevant protective practices established in the CAP Strategic Plan pursuant to that paragraph. Member States may deem farmers and other beneficiaries who commit to implement those equivalent practices to be compliant with the relevant protective practice. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 3a | |
| The principles of proportionality and competitiveness | |
| 1. Measures implemented under this Regulation must not result in a sustained deterioration in the competitiveness of farmers in the European Union compared to producers outside it. | |
| 2. All new environmental and climate requirements shall be introduced with due regard for: (a) adequate financial support; | |
| (b) transitional periods; | |
| (c) an assessment of the impact on farmers’ incomes. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) climate change mitigation including carbon removals and on-farm renewable energy production, including biogas production; | (b) climate change mitigation including carbon sequestration and the development of on-farm renewable energy sources, including biogas production, feedstocks from food waste, animal waste and byproducts; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) soil health; | (c) soil and water protection and health; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) preservation of biodiversity, such as conservation of habitats or species, landscape features, reduction of use of pesticides; | (d) preservation of biodiversity, such as conservation of habitats or species, maintenance of permanent grasslands, protection of unproductive areas, landscape features, reduction of use of pesticides, and promoting sustainable alternatives, including precision-farming and nature-based solutions; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (f) animal health and welfare. | (f) animal health and welfare, including through the development of mobile or fixed slaughterhouses; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (fa) reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of innovative technologies and agricultural practices, in particular those supported under Article 5(1)(v). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States with areas affected by water pollution due to nitrate surplus shall provide support to farmers for extensification of livestock systems or for diversification to other agricultural activities. | Member States with areas affected by water pollution due to nitrate surplus shall provide targeted, adequate and time-bound support to farmers to facilitate the gradual adjustment of their farming systems, including support for extensification of livestock systems, investment in alternative production models, diversification to other agricultural activities, advisory services, training, and temporary compensation for income losses incurred as a result of such adjustment. Such support shall be designed to maintain the economic viability of farms, safeguard sustainable food production, and avoid disproportionate socio-economic impacts in the affected regions. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) degressive area-based income support; | (a) area-based income support; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (aa) complementary income support for young farmers; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ea) reducing bureaucracy; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ia) support for establishing and scaling legumes and other protein crops on new and existing farms, including on-farm or local processing and the circular valorisation of co-products and by-products, in ways that strengthen crop rotations and soil health. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (j) support for setting-up of young farmers, new farmers, rural business and start-ups and development of small farms; | (j) support for the setting-up of young farmers, new farmers, rural businesses and start-ups and development of small farmers; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ka) support for promoting safe access to water, water management – including integrated and digitalised water management – and water resilience, including the modernisation of irrigation systems; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (n) territorial and local cooperation initiatives; | (n) territorial and local cooperation initiatives, including support for short supply chains, local markets and local processing, as well as local agricultural storage, slaughter and processing infrastructure of farm outputs to support farmers' position in the supply chain; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (o) interventions in outermost regions; | (o) interventions in outermost regions, under the POSEI as well as additional interventions complementary to POSEI; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (sa) support for participation in agricultural product quality schemes, the development of direct sales and short supply chains; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (sb) investment and operational support for the implementation of technologies and practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (sc) support for the prevention, monitoring, control and combating of animal disease, including actions that are complementary to Union instruments, in particular the European Veterinary Fund; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1a. The interventions referred to in paragraph 1, points (a), (b), (c) and (g) shall not apply to outermost regions referred to in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. All other interventions should apply to these regions under conditions that take account of their specific characteristics and ensure effective and appropriate support. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Interventions referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (k), and interventions in certain sectors referred to in Title I, Part II, Chapter IIa, of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be income support interventions to be financed from the Fund in accordance with Article 10(2), point (a), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]. | 2. Interventions referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (k), and interventions in certain sectors referred to in Title I, Part II, Chapter IIa, of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be income support interventions to be financed from the CAP Strategic Plan. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3a. Union funding may be used to extend the scope or effectiveness of any existing national school schemes or school distribution schemes providing fruit, vegetables and milk in educational establishments but shall not replace funding for those existing national schemes, except for free distribution of meals to children in educational establishments. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3b. The Union financial assistance to be granted to recognised producer organisations, associations of producer organisations or identified producer groups implementing interventions in certain sectors referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be limited to: | |
| (a) 4.1 % of the value of the marketed production of each producer organisation; | |
| (b) 4.5 % of the value of the marketed production of each association of producer organisations; | |
| (c) 5 % of the value of marketed production of each transnational producer organisation or transnational association of producer organisations. | |
| Those limits may be increased by 0.5 percentage points where the operational programme comprises one or more interventions linked to generational renewal, research and innovation, risk management or environment and climate, provided the amount in excess of the relevant percentage set out in the first subparagraph, points (a), (b) or (c), is used solely to finance expenditure related to the implementation of the interventions. Member States shall limit the support for the setting up of producer groups, producer organisations or interbranch organisations to 10 % of the turnover of the group or organisation with a maximum of EUR 100 000 per year; that support shall be degressive and limited to the first five years following recognition or the start of joint activities intended to lead to recognition as determined by Member States in their CAP Strategic Plan. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3c. Member States shall establish rules relating to the calculation of the support for distillation of by-products of wine, ensuring a fair compensation to both distillers and wine producers. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3d. The Union financial assistance and national contribution to each intervention in certain sectors referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall together not exceed 100% of actual costs of the intervention; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3e. Member States shall ensure the implementation of interventions which help to strengthen the position of the farmer in the supply chain, inter alia through producer organisations and groups, quality schemes, including and in particular those promoting animal welfare and low-emissions production, the development of short supply chains and actions promoting agricultural products, including products covered by the Union’s quality schemes and national schemes, in particular as part of the interventions referred to in paragraph 1(sa); |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 5a | |
| National contribution to estimated costs | |
| 1. The minimum national contribution rate to the estimated costs of a measure of the Plan shall not be lower than: | |
| (a) 15 % for less developed regions; | |
| (b) 40 % for transition regions; | |
| (c) 60 % for more developed regions. | |
| However, for the outermost regions and rural areas with structural handicaps, the EU contribution may be higher depending on the actual fiscal capacity of the territories concerned. | |
| 2. Where, for a given measure, it is not possible to determine the proportion of implementation in less developed regions, the national contribution rate to the estimated costs shall not be lower than the population weighted average of the applicable contribution rates of its regions laid down in paragraph 1. | |
| 3. No national contribution rate at the level of each Interreg chapter shall be no lower than 20 %. The rate shall be reduced by 5 percentage points for chapters supporting outermost regions’ cooperation and cross-border cooperation on external borders. | |
| 4. No national contribution shall be requested for interventions referred to in Article 5(1), points (a), (b), (c) and (g). No additional national financing shall be provided for those interventions. Any contribution rate derogating from those of paragraph 1, including where no national contributions are requested, shall only apply to a total amount of interventions not exceeding the Member State’s share. | |
| 5. Subject to compliance with Article 5(a) paragraph 1 [national contribution], the minimum national contribution to the interventions referred to Article 5 paragraph (1) points (d) to (k) shall be no less than 30% of the total estimated costs of each intervention. | |
| 6. The maximum support rate applicable to the interventions referred to in Article 5 paragraph (1)(i) [investments for farmers] shall be 75% of the total eligible costs of each intervention. However, the maximum support rate applicable to the interventions referred to in Article 5 (1)(i), targeting young farmers shall be 85 % of the eligible public expenditure. | |
| 7. The financial allocation to coupled income-support interventions as referred to in Article 5 paragraph (1)(b) shall be limited to a maximum of 20% of the Union contribution set out by the Member State in the Strategic Plan for CAP income-support interventions referred to in Article 5(1), points (a), (c), (f) and (g). This proportion may be increased by a maximum of 5 percentage points, provided that the amount corresponding to the percentage exceeding 20% is allocated to protein crops, farmers combining the production of crops and livestock or agricultural areas at a risk of abandonment of agricultural production in particular in the Eastern border regions, defined in the plans. | |
| For the purposes of this Article, ‘Eastern border regions’ means Union NUTS 2 regions bordering the Russian Federation, Belarus or the Ukraine, by land or sea, not covering the entire territory of the Member State concerned. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Degressive area-based income support | Area-based income support |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States shall provide area-based income support for eligible hectares to farmers to address income needs. | 1. Member States shall provide area-based income support for eligible hectares to farmers to address income needs. Member States shall allocate a minimum share of direct payments to redistributive income support for small and medium-sized farms. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The payment per eligible hectare shall be differentiated by groups of farmers or geographical areas, on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria. The groups of farmers or geographical areas that are basis for the differentiation of payments shall be established based on farmers’ income from agricultural activity in a representative reference period. | The payment per eligible hectare may be differentiated by groups of farmers or geographical areas, on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria. The groups of farmers or geographical areas that are basis for the differentiation of payments shall be established based on farmers’ income from agricultural activity in a representative reference period. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| When differentiating the payments, Member States shall target the support at farmers who are the most in need, in particular young and new farmers, women, family or small farmers, farmers combining the production of crops and livestock or farmers in areas with natural or other area-specific constraints determined in accordance with Article 8. | When differentiating the payments, Member States shall target the support at farmers who are the most in need, in particular young and new farmers, women, small farmers, family farms, mixed farms engaged in both crop and livestock production, or farmers in areas with natural or other area-specific constraints determined in accordance with Article 8. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The differentiation of payments may take the form of annual lump sum payments that replace fully or partially the area-based income support per eligible hectare. Members States shall increase the support per eligible hectare granted to young farmers. | The differentiation of payments may take the form of annual lump sum payments that replace fully or partially the area-based income support per eligible hectare. Member States may increase the support per eligible hectare granted to young farmers without prejudice to the allocation of complementary income support for young farmers under Article 14. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. The planned average aid per hectare for degressive area-based income support referred in the first subparagraph shall not be less than EUR 130 and not more than EUR 240 for each Member State. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2b. The European Commission and the Council of the EU shall ensure that when national and regional CAP plans are developed and approved, the difference between the national average levels of area-based income support per eligible hectare granted to farmers does not exceed EUR 50. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. The total amount of payments per farmer established in accordance with paragraph 2 shall be degressive in accordance with the following rules: | 3. The total amount of payments per farmer established in accordance with paragraph 2 may be set on a degressive basis by the Member States, in discharging their competences, in accordance with the following rules: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) Member States shall reduce the annual amount of the area-based income support exceeding EUR 20 000 to be granted to a farmer by 25 % where the amount of the area-based income support granted to a farmer is between EUR 20 000 and EUR 50 000; | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) Member States shall reduce the annual amount of the area-based income support exceeding EUR 50 000 to be granted to a farmer by 50 % where the amount of the area-based income support granted to a farmer is more than EUR 50 000 and not more than EUR 75 000; | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) Member States shall reduce the annual amount of the area-based income support exceeding EUR 75 000 to be granted to a farmer by 75 % where the amount of the area-based income support granted to a farmer exceeds EUR 75 000. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The total amount of area-based income support shall not be higher than maximum EUR 100 000 per farmer per year. In the case of a legal person or groups of legal persons, the capping shall cover all holdings under the control of one legal or natural person. | 4. Member States may set a cap on the total amount of area-based income support per farmer per year. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. The Member States shall ensure that the support under this Article is primarily directed towards farmers who exercise an agricultural activity on their holding and actively contribute to food security. Small farmers, whose principal activity is not agriculture, but who are engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity, as set out by Member States, shall be considered farmers as well. | 5. The Member States shall ensure that the support under this Article is granted only to active farmers, meaning entities actually carrying on agricultural activities on their holding, bearing the production risk and deriving part of their income from agricultural activities and actively contributing to food security. Small farmers, whose principal activity is not agriculture, but who are engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity, as set out by Member States, shall be considered farmers eligible for the support provided for in this article as well. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Member States shall ensure that at the latest by 2032 the applicants who reach the retirement age, determined by national law, and who receive a retirement pension, no longer receive support under this Article. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7a. Member States shall ensure that they do not tax or place levies on area-based income support. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7b. Area-based income support shall be indexed annually in line with the average European inflation rate. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7c. Member States shall allocate at least 5% of their financial envelope for income support interventions to support young farmers, including through complementary income support and other relevant interventions targeting young farmers. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 6a | |
| Complementary income support for young farmers | |
| 1. Member States shall provide complementary income support for young farmers who have set up in accordance with the Member State’s national and regional partnership plan, in accordance with the criteria set out in Article 4(22) of Regulation (EU) [...] [NRP]. | |
| 2. Member States shall provide complementary income support for young farmers who have newly set up a holding for the first time and who are entitled to a payment under the degressive area-based income support as referred to in Article 6. | |
| 3. The complementary income support for young farmers shall be granted for a maximum duration of five years, starting from the first year of submission of the application for the payment for young farmers, and subject to the conditions to be determined by the CAP legal framework applicable for the period after 2034 when the duration of five years goes beyond 2034. Member States shall ensure that no legal expectations of beneficiaries are created for the period after 2034. That support shall take the form either of an annual decoupled payment per eligible hectare or of a lump-sum payment per young farmer. Member States may decide to grant the support under this Article only to a maximum number of hectares per young farmer. | |
| 4. In the case of a legal person, or a group of natural or legal persons such as a group of farmers, producer organisations or cooperatives, Member States may apply the maximum number of hectares referred to in paragraph 3 at the level of the members of those legal persons or groups: | |
| (a) who meet the definition and requirements for ‘young farmer’ as laid down in the Member State’s national and regional partnership plan, in accordance with the criteria set out in Article 4(22) of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]; | |
| (b) where national law provides for the individual members to assume rights and obligations comparable to those of individual farmers who have the status of a head of holding, in particular as regards their economic, social and tax status, provided that they have contributed to strengthening the agricultural structures of the legal persons or groups concerned. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall provide income support to small farmers, as determined by the Member States replacing the support under interventions referred to in Article 5(1), points (a), (b) and (d). Member States shall design the intervention in the NRP Plan as optional for farmers. | Member States shall provide income support to small farmers, as determined by the Member States and local and regional authorities replacing the support under interventions referred to in Article 5(1), points (a), (b) and (d). Member States shall design the intervention in the CAP Strategic Plan as optional for farmers, while maintaining the objectives of promoting fair distribution, the vitality of rural areas and the reduction of bureaucracy. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The Member States shall ensure that the support under this Article is primarily directed towards farmers who exercise an agricultural activity on their holding and actively contribute to food security. | The Member States shall ensure that sufficient support under this Article is primarily directed towards farmers who exercise an agricultural activity on their holding and actively contribute to food security. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The annual payment for each small farmer shall not exceed EUR 3 000. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 7a | |
| Crop-specific payment for cotton | |
| 1. Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and Portugal shall grant a crop-specific payment for cotton to farmers producing cotton falling within CN code 5201 00. Those Member States shall establish specific requirements to guarantee a minimum level of production efficiency and product quality. | |
| 2. The Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure that the supported cotton production does not put excessive strain on natural resources such as water and soil. To that end, or for other environmental or socio-economic reasons, those Member States may grant the aid only for specific cotton varieties, in specific regions, or for specific types of farming, or may establish requirements related to agronomic practices. | |
| 3. The crop-specific payment for cotton shall be granted per hectare of eligible area of cotton. | |
| 4. The following national base areas are established: | |
| (a) Bulgaria: 3 342 ha; | |
| (b) Greece: 250 000 ha; | |
| (c) Spain: 48 000 ha; | |
| (d) Portugal: 360 ha. | |
| 5. The following fixed yields in the reference period are established: | |
| (a) Bulgaria: 1.2 tonne/ha; | |
| (b) Greece: 3.2 tonne/ha; | |
| (c) Spain: 3.5 tonne/ha; | |
| (d) Portugal: 2.2 tonne/ha. | |
| 6. The amount of the crop-specific payment per hectare of eligible area shall be calculated by multiplying the yields laid down in paragraph 2 with the following reference amounts: | |
| (a) Bulgaria: EUR 636.13 | |
| (b) Greece: EUR 229.37; | |
| (c) Spain: EUR 354.73; | |
| (d) Portugal: EUR 223.32. | |
| 7. If the eligible area of cotton in a given Member State in a given year does not exceed the base area laid down in paragraph 1, then the amount per hectare referred to in paragraph 3 may be increased either by a coefficient obtained by dividing the national base area by the actual eligible area, or increased by 25%, whichever is smaller. | |
| 8. If the eligible area exceeds the base area, the amount per hectare shall be reduced proportionately to the overrun of the base area. | |
| 9. For the purposes of this Article, an ‘approved interbranch organisation’ means a legal entity made up of and founded by farmers producing cotton and at least one ginner. Such organisations shall ensure efficient and durable action with the goal to concentrate supply and to adapt production to market requirements. | |
| 10. The Member State where the ginners are established shall approve interbranch organisations that satisfy the criteria laid down in paragraph 1. | |
| 11. In the case of farmers who are members of an approved interbranch organisation, the crop-specific payment for cotton for hectares that are eligible within the national base area laid down in paragraph 4 shall be increased by an amount of EUR 2. For this purpose, Member States may establish specific requirements for the members of such interbranch organisations. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States shall provide support to compensate farmers for natural or other area-specific constraints. | 1. Member States shall provide support to compensate farmers for natural or other area-specific constraints, with the objective of ensuring the continuation of agricultural activity and preventing land abandonment. Member States may grant targeted income support to sectors or regions facing specific constraints, including areas with natural constraints and low-income sectors. Payments shall be targeted in particular at small-scale and family farms, young and new farmers, and farmers in areas where agricultural activity is essential for maintaining rural communities and local livelihoods. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) are newly designated in view of specific constraints defined by Member States and have been included in the NRP Plan. | (b) are newly designated in view of specific constraints defined by Member States and have been included in the CAP Strategic Plan, including areas facing severe and permanent demographic decline, insularity, remoteness, border-related disadvantages or persistent accessibility deficits. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States may carry out a fine-tuning with the purpose of excluding areas within the areas designated in accordance the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), under the conditions laid down in Article 32(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013. | Member States may carry out a fine-tuning with the purpose of excluding areas within the areas designated in accordance with the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), under the conditions laid down in Article 32(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013. Increased farm input costs of Island Member States should be acknowledged and addressed in the CAP Strategic Plan. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States may provide area-based support in agricultural and forest areas for disadvantages resulting from the implementation of: | Member States shall provide area-based support in agricultural and forest areas for disadvantages resulting from the implementation of: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (aa) Directive 91/676/EEC of the Council |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| In addition to the areas referred to in the first subparagraph, point (a), Member States may decide to support other delimited nature protection areas with environmental restrictions applicable to farming or forestry which contribute to the implementation of Article 10 of Directive 92/43/EEC, provided that those areas do not exceed 5 % of the designated Natura 2000 areas covered by the NRP Plan. | In addition to the areas referred to in the first subparagraph, point (a), Member States may decide to support other delimited nature protection areas with environmental restrictions applicable to farming or forestry which contribute to the implementation of Article 10 of Directive 92/43/EEC, provided that those areas do not exceed 5 % of the designated Natura 2000 areas covered by the CAP Strategic Plan. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States shall provide incentives for the following actions beneficial for the climate, environment, animal health and welfare and sustainable forestry: | 1. Without prejudice to other actions, Member States may provide incentives aimed at promoting actions beneficial for the climate, environment, animal health and welfare and sustainable forestry: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) voluntary transition towards resilient production systems carried out by farmers at the level of the holding or for part of a holding, including conversion to organic farming and extensification of livestock production systems, established and implemented in accordance with paragraph 4. | (b) voluntary transition towards resilient production systems carried out by farmers at the level of the holding or for part of a holding, including conversion to organic farming and sustainable livestock production systems, and diversification including to increased plant protein and leguminous production in rotation, established and implemented in accordance with paragraph 4. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) protection of water quality and reduction of pressure on water resources, protection of soil, nutrient management, biodiversity conservation, including landscape features and reduction of the use of pesticides; | (a) protection of water quality, reuse of water and reduction of pressure on water resources, protection of soil, nutrient management, biodiversity conservation, including landscape features and reduction of the use of pesticides; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ea) production and sustainable use of renewable energy in agriculture, including through the development of agrivoltaic systems; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (eb) circular use of resource; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ec) use of digital and innovative technologies, such as robotics or precision agriculture; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ed) other targets set at national level which contribute to the Union’s strategic autonomy in relation to the supply of food and food security. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Support for the transition actions referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), shall granted on the basis of a transition action plan drawn up by a farmer and approved by the Member State. To implement the support for transition actions referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), Member States shall describe in the NRP Plan the production systems that they deem beneficial for the climate and environment. | Support for the transition actions referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), shall granted on the basis of a transition action plan drawn up by a farmer and approved by the Member State. To implement the support for transition actions referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), Member States shall describe in the CAP Strategic Plan the production systems that they deem beneficial for the climate and environment. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Transition plans shall include an assessment of the economic impact on the farm and appropriate compensation measures for any losses of income. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5a. Support shall only be granted under this Article for commitments accompanied by appropriate financial compensation, taking into consideration additional costs, income foregone and incentives, and may be supplemented by investment and operational support, in particular as part of the interventions referred to in Article 5(1)(sb). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. For support granted as a payment per animal to the livestock sectors, Member States shall take into account environmental impacts, including by setting a maximum livestock density criteria in nitrate vulnerable zones. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4a. Member States may prioritise support for sectors which are particularly important in terms of food security, market stability and the achievement of environmental and climate goals. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall provide support to farmers for participation in risk management tools. Member States shall ensure that support is granted only for losses which exceed a threshold of at least 20 % of the average annual production or income of the farmer in the preceding three-year period, or a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period excluding the highest and lowest entry. | Member States shall provide support to farmers for participation in risk management tools, including for risks due to energy and fuel price volatility, supply chain disruptions or geopolitical crises affecting agricultural production costs. Member States shall ensure that support is granted only for losses which exceed a threshold of at least 20 % of the average annual production or income of the farmer in the preceding three-year period, or a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period excluding the highest and lowest entry. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States that demonstrate in the NPR Plan the existence of national systems which provide risk coverage for farmers shall be exempt from the obligation to include in their NRP Plan interventions for risk management tools under this Article. | By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States that demonstrate in the CAP Strategic Plan the existence of national systems which provide risk coverage for farmers shall be exempt from the obligation to include in their plan interventions for risk management tools under this Article, in order to provide the utmost operational flexibility and reduce administrative burdens. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Member States shall establish the methodology for the calculation of losses and triggering factors for compensation in their NRP Plan. Member States shall ensure that any overcompensation resulting from the combination of the interventions under this Article with other public or private risk management schemes is avoided. | 4. Member States, where applicable in conjunction with local and regional authorities, shall establish the methodology for the calculation of losses and triggering factors for compensation in their CAP Strategic Plan. Member States shall ensure that any overcompensation resulting from the combination of the interventions under this Article with other public or private risk management schemes is avoided. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4a. Member States shall provide for the option of fast-start support in the event of serious disturbance of the market, resulting inter alia from a sudden increase in imports or a collapse in prices, and shall ensure complementarity of the interventions referred to in Article 5(1). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States shall grant support under this Article for productive and non-productive investments making an appropriate overall contribution to resilience of agriculture, food systems, forestry and rural areas, in particular climate and water resilience. Member States shall explain in their NRP Plans how they plan to grant such support. | 1. Member States shall grant support under this Article for productive and non-productive investments making an appropriate overall contribution to resilience of agriculture, food systems, forestry and rural areas, in particular climate and water resilience and the high-quality provision of public services as well as social infrastructure. Member States shall explain in their CAP Strategic Plans how they plan to grant such support. Investment support shall take into account the need to maintain the competitiveness of agricultural holdings and shall encompass actions supporting implementation of the interventions referred to in Article 5(1). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1a. Member States may grant support to promote safe access to water, the modernisation and digitalisation of water management and the water resilience of agricultural holdings, and to enable farmers to achieve integrated water management, including by modernising irrigation where appropriate. This support may be carried out under the rural objective set out in Regulation (EU) 2025/0240 (NRCP Regulation). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1b. In granting support under this Article, Member States shall give particular consideration to investments in rural areas affected by demographic decline, remoteness, insularity, mountainous conditions, border-specific constraints or insufficient connectivity, with a view to preserving agricultural activity, strengthening food security, improving water resilience and facilitating the uptake of digital and precision farming technologies. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. For holdings above a certain size, to be determined by Member States in their NRP Plans, support for the forestry sector shall be conditional on the presentation of the relevant information from a forest management plan or equivalent instrument in accordance with the sustainable management of forests as defined in the most recent version of Forest Europe’s General Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Forests in Europe. | 2. For holdings above a certain size, to be determined by Member States in their CAP Strategic Plans, support for the forestry sector shall be conditional on the presentation of the relevant information from a forest management plan or equivalent instrument in accordance with the sustainable management of forests as defined in the most recent version of Forest Europe’s General Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Forests in Europe. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. By way of derogation from the rates of support that apply to interventions stipulated in this Article, the maximum rate of support that shall apply to investments in the outermost regions, as referred to in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, shall be set at a minimum of 85 % of eligible public expenditure. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3a. Member States shall provide support under this article for investments in the development of an adequate national slaughterhouse network. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (iv) rearing of bovine, sheep or goat pure-bred animals of high genetic value for breeding to improve the quality and productivity of livestock herds or to preserve rare or local breeds; | (iv) rearing of bovine, porcine, sheep or goat pure-bred or high genetic value animals for breeding programmes, including commercial cross-breeding, with the aim of improving genetic quality, productivity, resistance to disease and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and also of preserving rare and local breeds; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6a. Member States shall prioritise investments in support of the following: | |
| (a) reducing greenhouse gas emissions; | |
| (b) improving water management; | |
| (c) increasing energy efficiency; | |
| (d) developing renewable energy sources, including biogas. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Setting-up of young farmers, rural business start-up and development of small farms | Setting-up of young farmers, rural business start-up and development of small farmers |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States shall provide support for the setting-up of young farmers and the start-up of rural businesses, including the setting-up of new farmers, under the conditions laid down in this Article and as further specified in their NRP Plans. | 1. Member States, where applicable in conjunction with local and regional authorities, will provide support for the setting-up of young farmers, new entrants and the start-up of rural businesses, including the setting-up of new farmers, under the conditions laid down in this Article and as further specified in their CAP Strategic Plans, with particular attention to reducing administrative burdens in order to ensure profitability and competitiveness in the long term. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) the setting-up of young farmers who fulfil the conditions provided for by Member States in their NRP Plans in accordance with Article 4(22), point (d), of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]; | (a) the setting-up of young farmers who fulfil the conditions provided for by Member States in their CAP Strategic Plans in accordance with Article 1(a) of this Regulation; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Member States shall grant support in the form of lump sums or financial instruments or a combination of both. Support shall be limited to the maximum amount of aid of EUR 300 000 and may be differentiated in accordance with objective and non-discriminatory criteria. | 4. Member States shall grant support in the form of lump sums or financial instruments or a combination of both. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4a. In particular, Member States may take into account the different methods of production considered by the young and new farmers, including the installation of farmers engaged in sustainable methods of production such as organic farming. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall establish in their NRP Plan a Strategy on Generational Renewal in Agriculture to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of interventions targeting young farmers under this Regulation, and national initiatives. The Strategy shall include: | Member States shall establish in their CAP Strategic Plan a Strategy on Generational Renewal in Agriculture which may be developed and implemented at regional level by competent regional managing authorities, reflecting regional demographic and land access conditions, to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of interventions targeting young farmers under this Regulation, and national initiatives. The Strategy shall include: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) an assessment of the current demographic situation in the agricultural sector; | (a) an assessment of the current demographic situation in the agricultural sector, including territorial and structural disparities, and the formulation of a concrete plan to address it; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) identification of entry barriers for young farmers and proposed national initiatives and measures to overcome them; | (b) identification of barriers and obstacles to entry for young farmers, including access to land, capital, knowledge, advisory services, risk management tools and gender inequalities, and proposed national and regional initiatives and measures to overcome them and to support young farmers; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ba) specific measures to enhance gender equality and to support women in agriculture; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) synergies between measures contributing to generational renewal set out in the NRP Plan. | (d) synergies between measures contributing to generational renewal set out in the CAP Strategic Plan, as well as with other relevant Union and national instruments supporting rural development and innovation; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (da) the measures to achieve the targets relevant to generational renewal in agriculture in the Regulation establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities; establishing quantifiable and complementary targets at national or regional level and measures to achieve them; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall annually monitor the effectiveness of the National Strategy on General Renewal in Agriculture on the basis of the quantifiable targets set in paragraph 1(da); |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States may amend the National Strategy on Generational Renewal in Agriculture according to the results of the monitoring referred to in paragraph 2 or in other justified cases. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) degressive area-based income support for young farmers in accordance with Article 6; | (b) area-based income support for young farmers in accordance with Article 6; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (da) reducing administrative burdens; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e) possibilities of financing investments implemented by young farmers through the financial instruments in accordance with Article 71 of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]; | (e) possibilities of financing investments implemented by young farmers through the financial instruments applicable to the CAP; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (g) cooperation interventions facilitating access to innovation through the projects of EIP-AGRI operational groups in accordance with Article 19 of this Regulation and Article 74 of Regulation (EU) [...] [NRP]; | (g) cooperation interventions facilitating access to innovation through the projects of EIP-AGRI operational groups in accordance with Article 19 of this Regulation; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (h) cooperation interventions facilitating intergenerational cooperation including farm succession in accordance with Article 74 of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]; | (h) cooperation interventions facilitating intergenerational cooperation including farm succession; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Member States shall integrate in the design of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 links and synergies with other measures set out in their NRP Plans, in particular in respect to measures facilitating intergenerational succession and generational renewal, investments for rural business start-ups, or access to and use of financial instruments. | 2. Member States shall integrate in the design of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 links and synergies with other measures set out in their CAP Strategic Plans, in particular in respect to measures facilitating intergenerational succession and generational renewal, investments for rural business start-ups, and improving access to and facilitating the use of financial instruments. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States may provide support for the farm relief services, allowing farmers to take a leave for sickness, childbearing, care for children and other family members, holidays and similar life events, as well as participation in trainings, as further specified in their NRP Plans. | 1. Member States may provide support for the farm relief services, allowing farmers to take a leave for sickness, childbearing, care for children and other family members, holidays and similar life events, as well as participation in trainings, as further specified in their CAP Strategic Plans. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1a. The services may also provide support to farm workers taking part in training and education measures. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. This support shall be limited to the setting up of farm relief services and to costs of wages of the workers replacing the farm holder during a limited period of time. | 2. This support shall be limited to the setting up of farm relief services and to costs of wages of the workers replacing the farm holder during a limited period of time. In the case of paragraph 1a new of this article, the support may encompass the continued payment of wages during training and education measures. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. Ensure Farm Relief workers are adequately and fairly renumerated in CAP Strategic Plan. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Member States shall provide support for LEADER to prepare and implement LEADER local development strategies under the conditions laid down in Article 76 of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP] and as further specified in their NRP Plans. | 1. Member States shall provide support for LEADER to prepare and implement LEADER local development strategies in partnership with local and regional authorities as specified in their CAP Strategic Plans |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1a. Member States shall work to further simplify the activities of LEADER organisations to ensure that their delivery on the ground is increased, and their administrative burden is decreased. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1b. Member states ensure that the financial allocation for LEADER in their CAP strategic plans is at least equal to the level allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period, at constant prices. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Member States shall support LEADER at least in rural areas with specific disadvantages defined by the Member States in the NPR Plans. | 2. Member States, in partnership with local and regional authorities, shall support LEADER in all rural areas wherever possible, and at least in rural areas with specific disadvantages defined by the Member States in the CAP Strategic Plans. LEADER interventions shall be based on local development strategies, multi-sectoral integration, innovation, networking and bottom-up participation and shall ensure adequate territorial coverage and shall continuity of community-led local development across the programming period. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. Member States shall provide support through LEADER for projects implemented by local action groups involving startups, value added capacity in transformation, diversification of farm activities, including agrotourism, direct sale of agricultural products and innovation. | 3. Member States in partnership with local and regional authorities shall provide support through LEADER for projects implemented by local action groups, including governance, capacity building, networking and advisory activities; where appropriate, support will also be provided to projects involving but not limited to startups, value-added capacity in transformation for rural development, diversification of farm activities, including agrotourism, direct sale of agricultural products and innovation as well as projects enhancing social infrastructure, basic public services, and structural community-led local development. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Support provided from LEADER shall be focused on rural development fields with added value for farmers and forest holders, such as social, environmental, digital and economic transformation of rural areas, improvement of well-being of rural citizens, strengthening social capital. | 4. Support provided from LEADER shall be focused on rural development fields with added value the entire rural community, including municipalities, SMEs, the population in rural areas, farmers or forest holders, such as social, environmental, digital and economic transformation of rural areas, improvement of well-being of rural citizens, fighting poverty and social exclusion, fostering job creation, and strengthening social capital, including Smart Villages strategies and actions, ensuring coherence with existing community-led governance structures. Particular attention should be paid to rural areas in transition regions that are more affected by economic structural change, demographic challenges, skills shortages or limited infrastructure. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4a. LEADER local action groups may implement local development strategies through actions contributing to integrated, place-based approaches, in complementarity with support provided under Regulation (EU) […] [NRPP], provided that complementarity is ensured and double funding is avoided. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4b. By way of derogation from the general co-financing rates laid down in this Regulation, the maximum EAFRD co-financing rate for LEADER interventions shall be 80 % in all regions, to ensure broad and robust participation of civil society and local action groups. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 18a | |
| Integrated territorial instruments for rural areas | |
| 1. Member States shall ensure that at least 30% of the allocation dedicated to rural areas provided for in Article 10, paragraph 2, point a, point ii of Regulation (EU) […] [NRPP] is implemented through integrated and participatory territorial instruments. | |
| 2. The instruments referred to in paragraph 1 shall include, in particular: | |
| (a) LEADER; | |
| (b) community-led local development (CLLD); | |
| (c) Smart Villages initiatives; | |
| (d) other place-based, multi-sectoral integrated territorial strategies. | |
| 3. The instruments referred to in paragraph 1 shall: | |
| (a) promote integrated approaches addressing economic, social, demographic and environmental challenges; | |
| (b) leverage synergies across different policy areas; (c) be based on territorial specificities and local needs; | |
| (d) ensure the active participation of relevant local stakeholders. | |
| 4. Member States shall demonstrate in their plans compliance with paragraph 1, including the allocation of resources and governance framework. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall provide support for knowledge sharing and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas under the conditions laid down in this Article. Member States shall provide support: | Member States shall provide support for knowledge sharing, exchange of best practices and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas under the conditions laid down in this Article. Member States shall provide support: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) for actions to promote innovation, training and advice, skills development, advisory services and other forms of knowledge sharing and dissemination of information. | (b) for actions to promote innovation, training and advice, skills development, advisory services, peer-to-peer learning and regional lighthouse farms and other forms of knowledge sharing and dissemination of information. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ba) facilitate the exchange of best practices; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (da) support research and innovation to enable intercropping at scale, including farmer-led agronomy, adapted machinery and practical guidance, in ways that improve soil health and biodiversity; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) develop innovative solutions focusing on the specific needs of farmers, forester holders and rural actors; | (a) develop innovative solutions focusing on the specific needs of rural communities including farmers, forester holders, farm workers and rural actors; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) bring together partners with complementary knowledge such as academia, researchers and the farming community, and where relevant, actors of the food chain and ensure their active involvement in projects; | (b) bring together partners with complementary knowledge such as academia, researchers, civil society and the farming community, and where relevant, actors of the food chain and ensure their active involvement in projects; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) the operational group implementing the project shall involve at least two different actors and shall contribute to one or more CAP-related specific objectives set out in Article 3, point (d), of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP]; | (b) the operational group implementing the project shall involve at least two different actors and shall contribute to one or more CAP-related specific objectives set out in Article 39 of the TFEU; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19a | |
| Crisis payments to farmers following natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events | |
| 1. Member States may provide crisis payments to farmers that are affected by natural disasters, adverse climatic events or catastrophic events. Those payments shall aim at ensuring continuity of the agricultural activity of those farmers and shall be subject to the conditions set out in this Article and as further specified by the Member States. | |
| 2. Support under this Article shall be subject to the formal recognition by the competent authority of the Member State that a natural disaster, adverse climatic event or catastrophic event, as defined by the Member State, has occurred and that these events, or measures adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 to eradicate or contain a plant disease or pest, or measures adopted to prevent or eradicate animal diseases listed in the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 or measures adopted regarding an emerging disease in accordance with Article 6(3) and Article 259 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 have directly caused a damage resulting in the destruction of at least 30 % of the average annual production of the farmer in the preceding three-year period or a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period, excluding the highest and the lowest entry. | |
| 3. The losses shall be calculated either at holding level, at the level of the holding’s activity in the sector concerned or in relation to the specific area concerned. | |
| 4. Member States shall establish the applicable support rates for compensating the loss of production. Those rates shall be higher for farmers who also implement interventions, or other preventive actions at farm level, to reduce the level of production and income risks for which support is granted. Indexes may be used for calculating the loss of production. | |
| 5. When granting support under this Article, Member States shall ensure that overcompensation as a result of the combination of this support with other national or Union support instruments or private insurance schemes is avoided. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19b | |
| Support for the smaller Aegean islands | |
| 1. This Chapter lays down specific types of intervention for agriculture to mitigate the difficulties caused by the insularity, small size and distance from markets of the smaller Aegean islands. | |
| 2. For the purposes of this Regulation ‘the smaller Aegean islands’ means any islands in the Aegean Sea except the islands of Crete and Evia. | |
| 3. The interventions referred to in paragraph 1 shall contribute towards achieving the following objectives: | |
| (a) guaranteed supply to the smaller Aegean islands of products essential for human consumption or for processing and as agricultural inputs by mitigating the additional costs incurred due to their extreme remoteness or insularity, without harming local production and the growth thereof; | |
| (b) securing the long-term future and development of agricultural activities in the smaller Aegean islands, including the production, processing and sale of local crops and products, with particular emphasis on food security and self-sufficiency, and maintaining and strengthening their competitiveness. | |
| 4. Greece may implement in smaller Aegean islands the interventions referred to in Article 5(1), except for those concerning the outermost regions. | |
| 5. Beneficiaries receiving support for local agricultural products under the scheme for local agricultural products must comply with sustainable farm stewardship requirements. | |
| 6. However, beneficiaries of support for local agricultural products receiving an annual payment that does not exceed EUR 3 000 shall be exempt from the farm stewardship requirements referred to in Annex XI, parts A and C, of this Regulation. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19c | |
| Specific supply arrangements | |
| 1. Specific supply arrangements shall be established for the agricultural products listed in Annex I to the TFEU which are essential in the smaller Aegean islands for human consumption, for the manufacture of other products or as agricultural inputs. | |
| 2. Greece shall establish in its plan, at the geographical level which it deems most appropriate, a maximum volume of each agricultural product, from among the products listed in Annex I to the TFEU, to quantify the annual supply requirements for the smaller Aegean islands. | |
| 3. The maximum volume of agricultural products referred to in the first subparagraph shall comprise also the volumes of those products required by undertakings packaging and processing products intended for the local market, for consignment to the rest of the Union or for export to third countries as part of regional trade or within the context of traditional trade flows. The maximum volume of the products referred to in the first subparagraph shall be established taking into account in particular the quantities of those products established in the supply forecast balance sheets in the previous programming period. | |
| 4. Support shall be granted to supply the smaller Aegean islands with Union products to ensure special supply requirements established in accordance with paragraph 2 in terms of price and quality, while maintaining the Union’s share in the supplies of those products. | |
| 5. No support shall be granted for the supply of products which have already benefited from the specific supply arrangements in another smaller Aegean islands. | |
| 6. Only products of sound, fair and marketable quality shall benefit from the specific supply arrangements. | |
| 7. In implementing the specific supply arrangements, Greece shall take account in particular of the need to ensure that existing local production is neither destabilised nor obstructed in its development and of the requirement laid down in the paragraph 5. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19d | |
| Support for local agricultural products | |
| 1. Greece shall grant support for production, processing, marketing and transport of raw and processed agricultural products in the smaller Aegean islands. | |
| 2. Greece shall design the interventions in such a way as to ensure the continuity and the development of local agricultural production in the smaller Aegean islands. | |
| 3. Greece shall provide for a fair distribution of payments, and may cap the amount of the support to be granted to a beneficiary in a given calendar year or use degressive payments. | |
| 4. Greece may grant support for marketing of products outside of the region in which they are produced. That support shall not exceed 10% of the value of the production marketed, delivered to a destination zone in a given calendar year. | |
| 5. When a plan is amended, beneficiaries affected by the exceptional natural disaster or the severe meteorological event may continue to benefit from support in the form of measures to support production, processing or sale provided for in paragraph 1 irrespective of their level of activity throughout the restoration period, but subject to a formal commitment to restore their agricultural production capacity. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19e | |
| Controls and penalties | |
| 1. Under the specific supply arrangements, Greece shall conduct verifications by means of administrative, physical and on-the-spot checks. | |
| 2. The administrative checks carried out on the import, entry, export and dispatch of agricultural products shall be exhaustive and shall involve cross-checks with the supporting documents. The physical checks carried out in smaller Aegean islands concerned on the import or entry of agricultural products shall involve a representative sample amounting to at least 5 % of the certificates. | |
| 3. In the case of measures to support the local production, Greece shall conduct verifications by means of administrative and on-the-spot checks. | |
| 4. Administrative checks shall be exhaustive and shall include cross-checks with, inter alia, data from the integrated administration and control. | |
| 5. Aid applicants for specific supply arrangements and support for local production shall be selected to undergo on-the-spot checks by the competent authority on the basis of a risk analysis and the representativeness of the aid applications submitted. The competent authorities shall perform on-the-spot checks by sampling, for each action, at least 5 % of aid applications. The sample shall also represent at least 5 % of the amounts covered by the aid for each action. In all appropriate cases, Greece shall make use of the Integrated Administration and Control System. Every on-the-spot check shall be the subject of an inspection report relating the details of the checks carried out. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19f | |
| Interventions to support agriculture in the outermost regions | |
| 1. Member States concerned shall prepare, as part of their CAP Strategic Plan, and following the scheme implemented under Regulation (EU) No 228/2013, measures to address the permanent and structural constraints which severely hamper the development of the outermost regions, as recognised in Article 349 TFEU. These interventions, implemented under the specific POSEI-type framework applicable to the outermost regions, may be implemented in a dedicated chapter. These interventions shall be aimed, in particular, at: | |
| (a) securing the long-term future and development of these forms of farming, including the production, processing, marketing, transport and sale of local crops and products, and the diversification of food production, with particular emphasis on food security and self-sufficiency; | |
| (b) maintaining and strengthening the competitiveness of farmers in the Outermost regions; | |
| (c) offsetting the abnormally high transport costs resulting from the structural and permanent constraints affecting the outermost regions, which hamper trade in these regions and the competitiveness of businesses. The establishment of the POSEI-type Transport programme will contribute to reducing transport costs, ensuring mobility and connectivity, and guaranteeing equitable access to the single market and, consequently, increasing the competitiveness of these regions and of the European Union as a whole, without sacrificing these populations, which already have the highest living costs in the EU; | |
| (d) supporting the establishment of schemes to compensate for additional costs, in order to ensure the sustainable development and use of forest resources, with a view to supporting the production, processing and marketing of timber; | |
| (e) contributing to adaptation to climate change and to strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems in the outermost regions. | |
| In addition, the chapters shall also include other interventions including compensation, related to: | |
| (a) specific supply arrangements referred to in Article 19h new | |
| (b) specific support to assist local agricultural production and processing referred to in Article 19 i new | |
| 2. These interventions shall apply independently of cohesion policy instruments. For each outermost region, the financial allocation to the schemes referred to in paragraph 1 shall be ring-fenced in the budget at a level equivalent to general CAP interventions. Their level shall be guaranteed to be at least equal to the allocations granted for the 2021–2027 period, in constant prices. This envelope may not be reduced or absorbed into or redirected to other EU financial instruments. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19g | |
| Specific supply arrangements | |
| 1. Specific supply arrangements may be established for the agricultural products listed in Annex I to the TFEU which are essential in the outermost regions for human consumption, for the manufacture of other products or as agricultural inputs. | |
| 2. The Member State concerned shall establish, at the geographical level which it deems most appropriate, a maximum volume of each product listed in Annex I to the TFEU, to quantify the annual supply requirements for each outermost region. The maximum volume of agricultural products shall further comprise the volumes of those products required by undertakings packaging and processing products intended for the local market, consignment to the rest of the Union or export to third countries as part of regional trade or within the context of traditional trade flows. The maximum volume of the products shall be established taking into account in particular the quantities of those products established in the supply forecast balance sheets in the previous programming period. A separate supply forecast balance sheet may be drawn up to cover the requirements of undertakings packaging and processing products intended for the local market, consignment to the rest of the Union or export to third countries as part of regional trade or within the context of traditional trade flows. | |
| 3. No customs duties shall apply to direct imports from third countries into the outermost regions of products covered by the specific supply arrangements that fall within the maximum volume established in the CAP Strategic Plans in accordance with paragraph 2. Products which have entered the Union’s customs territory under inward processing or customs warehousing arrangements shall be considered for the purposes of this Article to be direct imports from third countries. | |
| 4. Support shall be granted to supply the outermost regions with Union products to ensure special supply requirements established in accordance with paragraph 2 in terms of price and quality, while maintaining the Union’s share in the supplies of those products. No aid shall be granted for the supply of products which have already benefited from the specific supply arrangements in another outermost region. | |
| 5. Only products of sound, fair and marketable quality shall benefit from the specific supply arrangements. Products from third countries shall provide an equivalent level of guarantees to those manufactured under the Union’s veterinary and plant health standards. | |
| 6. In implementing the specific supply arrangements, the Member States shall take account in particular of the need to ensure that existing local production is neither destabilised nor obstructed in its development and of the requirement laid down in the paragraph. | |
| 7. Member States shall conduct verifications by means of administrative, physical and on-the-spot checks. The administrative checks carried out on the import, entry, export and dispatch of agricultural products shall be exhaustive and shall involve cross-checks with the supporting documents. The physical checks carried out in the outermost region concerned on the import or entry of products shall involve a representative sample amounting to at least 5 % of the certificates. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19h | |
| Support for agricultural products from the outermost regions | |
| 1. Each Member State concerned shall draw up, in accordance with the criteria laid down pursuant to paragraph 5 of this Article, for each outermost region, a list of agricultural products and the quantities of those products eligible for compensation for the additional costs incurred by operators. | |
| 2. The list referred to in paragraph 1 shall comprise at least the following elements: | |
| (a) a description of the interventions envisaged; | |
| (b) a list of the aid constituting income support interventions; | |
| (c) the aid amount established for each intervention and the provisional amount for each action in order to achieve one or more objectives for the programme. | |
| 3. The interventions may consist of support for production, processing, marketing and transport of raw and processed agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture products in the outermost regions. When establishing the lists and the quantities referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall take into account all relevant factors, in particular the additional costs incurred by operators in the outermost regions, and the need to ensure that the compensation is compatible and consistent with the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy. | |
| 4. Member States shall provide for a fair distribution of payments, and may cap the amount of the support to be granted to a beneficiary in a given calendar year or use degressive payments. | |
| 5. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to supplement this Regulation by laying down the criteria for the calculation of the additional costs resulting from the special characteristics of the regions concerned, including climate change. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 19i | |
| WTO domestic support | |
| 1. Member States shall design the CAP income support interventions on the basis of the types of intervention listed in Annex XVII [WTO Annex] to the NRPP Regulation, including the definitions and conditions laid down in Article X [definitions], in such a way that they qualify under the criteria of Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. | |
| 2. The support referred to in Article 5 [types of intervention] (1) points (a), (d), (g), (o) and (p) shall qualify under the criteria of the paragraphs of Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture indicated in Annex XVII [WTO Annex] to the NRPP Regulation for those interventions. For other interventions, the paragraphs of Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture indicated in Annex XVII to the NRPP Regulation [WTO Annex] are indicative and those interventions may instead comply with a different paragraph of Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture if that is specified and explained in the NRP Plan. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Each Member State shall ensure that farmers and forest holders have access to innovation and that new knowledge reaches them in a timely and effective manner, enabling them to deploy innovative and sustainable solutions effectively and profit from up-to-date knowledge in the agricultural sector. | 1. Each Member State in partnership with local and regional authorities shall ensure that rural communities including farmers and forest holders have access to innovation and that new knowledge reaches them in a timely and effective manner, enabling them to deploy innovative and sustainable solutions effectively and profit from up-to-date knowledge in the agricultural sector. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. To meet the requirement laid down in paragraph 1, each Member State shall establish in the NRP Plan how innovations and up-to-date knowledge reach farmers, in particular through the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (the AKIS). The AKIS shall include: | 2. To meet the requirement laid down in paragraph 1, each Member State shall establish in the second pillar of the CAP, in the CAP Strategic Plan, how innovations and up-to-date knowledge reach farmers, in particular through the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (the AKIS). The AKIS shall include: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) arrangements to ensure effective knowledge flows and synergies between advisors, researchers, practitioners, national CAP networks and other relevant stakeholders; | (a) arrangements to ensure effective knowledge flows and synergies between advisors, researchers, practitioners, local and regional authorities, local action groups, national and regional CAP networks and other relevant stakeholders; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) actions to improve access for farmers and forest holders to impartial and qualified advice; | (b) actions to improve access for rural communities and actors including farmers and forest holders to impartial and qualified advice; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (d) a plan to improve dissemination and demonstration of research outcomes and innovative and sustainable solutions to farmers, forester holders and other end-users at a large scale; | (d) a plan to improve dissemination and demonstration of research outcomes and innovative and sustainable solutions to rural communities and actors including farmers, forester holders and other end-users at a large scale; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (e) interventions set out in the NRP Plan supporting AKIS operation, in particular those referred to in Article 19, and their complementarity and coherence with relevant national initiatives and other relevant measures set out in the NRP Plan; | (e) interventions set out in the CAP Strategic Plan supporting AKIS operation, in particular those referred to in Article 19, and their complementarity and coherence with relevant national initiatives and other relevant measures set out in the CAP Strategic Plan; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. As part of the AKIS, Member States shall describe in the NRP Plans, and implement, a system for provision of farm advisory services to be established to support access to knowledge and wider deployment and use of innovations. The farm advisory services shall cover all the following elements: | 3. As part of the AKIS, Member States shall describe in the CAP Strategic Plans, and implement, a system for provision of farm advisory services to be established to support access to knowledge and wider deployment and use of innovations. The farm advisory services shall cover all the following elements: |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) advice to farmers and forest holders on sustainable and resilient management of land, farms and forests tailored to farm types and different production systems, as well as on the requirements for support set out in the NRP Plans, including farm stewardship, setting-up and transfers of holdings and start-ups; business management, access to social support, raising awareness about mental health issues and availability of the relevant services; and the use of innovations, data-driven solutions and digital tools; | (a) advice to farmers and forest holders on sustainable and resilient management of land, farms and forests tailored to farm types and different production systems, as well as on the requirements for support set out in the CAP Strategic Plans, including farm stewardship, setting-up and transfers of holdings and start-ups; business management, access to social support, raising awareness about mental health issues and availability of the relevant services; and the use of innovations, data-driven solutions and digital tools; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) targeted advice for young farmers, in particular as regards business management, access to finance, access to public support, access to knowledge and innovation. | (b) targeted advice for young farmers, in particular as regards business management, the adoption of resilient, diversified and agroecological practices, access to finance, access to public support, access to knowledge and innovation. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ba) targeted support for female farmers, in particular as regards to business management, access to finance, access to public support and to social security systems, access to knowledge and innovation, mentoring and networking opportunities; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Member States shall ensure that farmers and forester holders have direct access to advisers, such as by providing public databases of advisors. Member States shall ensure that the advice provided to farmers and forest holders is impartial, and that advisors are suitably qualified and free from conflict of interest. | 4. Member States shall ensure that rural communities and actors including farmers and forest holders have direct access to advisers, such as by providing public databases of advisors. Member States shall ensure that the advice provided to farmers and forest holders is impartial, and that advisors are suitably qualified and free from conflict of interest. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 20a | |
| Partnership Principle and multilevel governance | |
| 1. For programmes and activities financed by the EU budget, the Commission, Member States, subnational authorities and, where applicable, third countries and implementing partners shall ensure the application of the partnership principle and multilevel governance, in accordance with the sector-specific rules. | |
| 2. Where the design, implementation, monitoring or evaluation of a programme or activity has a territorial dimension or is expected to involve delivery at national, regional or local level, it shall be designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated in partnership with the relevant partners in a timely and meaningful manner. Those partners shall, as appropriate, include at least: | |
| (a) competent national, and subnational authorities; | |
| (b) economic and social partners; and | |
| (c) relevant civil society organisations. | |
| 3. The arrangements to apply paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be proportionate to the size, nature and management mode of the programme or activity, and shall avoid duplication of obligations already set out in sector-specific rules. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 20b | |
| Monitoring of agricultural resources | |
| The CAP may support actions taken by the Commission through remote-sensing applications used for the monitoring of agricultural resources, which shall aim to give the Commission the means to: | |
| (a) manage Union agricultural markets in a global context; | |
| (b) ensure agri-economic and agri-environmental-climate monitoring of agricultural land use and agricultural land use change, including agro-forestry, and monitoring of the condition of soil, crops, surface and ground water, biodiversity, agricultural landscapes and agricultural land so as to enable estimates to be made, in particular as regards the natural capital and factors of production agricultural and forestry activity, such as soil health, biodiversity and hydrological resilience, yields and agricultural production and agricultural impacts associated with exceptional circumstances, and to enable the assessment of the resilience of agricultural systems and progress towards the achievement of the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; | |
| (c) share the access to the estimates referred to in point (b) in an international context, such as the initiatives coordinated by United Nations organisations, including the constitution of greenhouse gas inventories under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or other international agencies; | |
| (d) contribute to specific measures increasing the transparency of world markets, taking account of Union objectives and commitments; | |
| (e) ensure technological follow-up of the agri-meteorological system. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 20c | |
| Implementation of the memorandum of understanding on oilseeds | |
| The Memorandum of understanding on oilseeds shall not apply to this regulation. |
Transfer of article 41 from NRP regulation - Deletion - The MOU has led to severe over-reliance on imported oilseeds including leguminous protein crops such as soya, and to a severe decline in EU seed breeding of leguminous/ protein crops such as beans, peas, lentils and lupins, for both food and especially feed uses - feed import dependency for protein crops is as high as 75%*; they are hardly grown in the EU, and many local/regional breeds have been lost. The MOU creates a legal obstacle to the development of the EU own-grown oilseeds breeding and market; it is in the interest of our self-sufficiency & strategic autonomy to develop that market.
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| To the extent possible, Member States shall base their assessment of needs and the design of the measures on the principle that data is collected only once and re-used. | To the extent possible, Member States shall base their assessment of needs and the design of the measures on the principle that data is collected only once and re-used, while ensuring proportionality, avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens for farmers and small rural beneficiaries, and taking account of disparities in digital infrastructure and administrative capacity across regions. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6a. Member States shall ensure that the ‘collect once, use multiple times’ principle is applied to farmers’ data and that the number of checks shall be limited to the minimum necessary. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency, and in order to resolve specific problems as referred to in paragraph 1 while ensuring the continuity of the CAP interventions set out in the NRP Plan in case of extraordinary circumstances, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3). | 2. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency, and in order to resolve specific problems as referred to in paragraph 1 while ensuring the continuity of the CAP interventions in case of extraordinary circumstances, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(3). |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 22a | |
| Technical assistance at the initiative of the Member State | |
| 1. At the initiative of a Member State, the Fund may support actions, which may concern previous and subsequent programming periods, necessary for the effective implementation of the Fund, including to provide financing for carrying out, inter alia, functions such as preparation, training, management, monitoring, evaluation, information, visibility and communication. | |
| 2. Technical assistance to each CAP Strategic Plan and each Interreg Plan chapter shall be established as a flat rate of up to 3% and 8% respectively, applied to the amount included in each payment application pursuant to the Article on payment applications. The flat rate shall be 10% for the Interreg Plan chapters supporting outermost cooperation and cooperation on external borders. A higher rate of technical assistance may be applied to the outermost regions and rural areas with limited administrative capacity, including to fund shared local administrative services for the benefit of small rural communities. | |
| 3. In the event of a reduction of the Union financial contribution, particularly owing to de-commitment or a financial correction, the Member State shall, at the closure of the CAP Strategic Plan, return to the Union budget any resources paid for technical assistance in accordance with paragraph 1 which exceed the percentage of the Union financial contribution set out in paragraph 2. | |
| 4. The Member States shall ensure that the amounts paid by the Commission for the CAP Strategic Plans are distributed in a balanced and proportionate manner across all the chapters of the Plan to promote all supported objectives. | |
| 5. The Member States may request support to prepare reforms included in their CAP Strategic Plans. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 22b | |
| Strengthening administrative capacity for rural development | |
| 1. Member States shall ensure that authorities involved in the planning and implementation of interventions targeting rural areas have the necessary administrative capacity to design and implement integrated, place-based strategies. | |
| 2. The Commission shall support the strengthening of administrative capacity of national, regional and local authorities involved in rural development, in particular in the context of implementing LEADER, community-led local development (CLLD), Smart Villages initiatives and other place-based instruments. | |
| 3. The support referred to in paragraph 2 may include, inter alia, training measures, technical assistance, support for the preparation and implementation of strategies, digitalisation and the strengthening of human resources at local level. | |
| 4. Member States shall make appropriate use of support available under this Regulation, in particular technical assistance and interventions supporting knowledge exchange and innovation, to prioritise capacity-building for local authorities in rural areas and local action groups. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 22c | |
| European and national CAP network | |
| 1. Each Member State shall, at the latest 12 months after the approval by the Commission of the Plan, establish and support a national network for CAP (‘national CAP network’) for the networking of organisations and administrations, advisors, researchers and other innovation actors, and other actors in the field of agriculture and rural development at national level. The national CAP networks shall build on the existing networking experience and practices in the Member States. | |
| 2. The Commission shall establish a European network for the Common Agricultural Policy (hereinafter: ‘European CAP network’) to link national networks, organisations, and administrations in the field of agriculture and rural development at Union level. | |
| 3. The objectives of the national and European CAP networks shall be to: | |
| (a) involve stakeholders in the design and implementation of the CAP interventions set out in the CAP Strategic Plan; | |
| (b) support Member State administrations in implementing the CAP interventions; | |
| (c) improve the quality of the CAP Strategic Plans and disseminate results; | |
| (d) foster innovation, peer-to-peer learning, and knowledge-sharing; | |
| (e) enhance monitoring and evaluation capacities; | |
| (f) disseminate information on the CAP and funding opportunities; | |
| (g) contribute to the further development of the CAP. | |
| 4. With a view to achieving the objectives of the CAP, the networks shall: | |
| (a) collect, analyse, and disseminate information on good practices concerning the CAP as well as analysis on developments in agriculture and rural areas; | |
| (b) build capacity for Member States’ administrations and other actors involved in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the plans concerning the CAP; | |
| (c) facilitate exchanges, peer-to-peer learning, and networking, including where relevant exchanges with networks in third countries; | |
| (d) support the networking of funded cooperation projects, such as local action groups under LEADER or EIP-AGRI operational groups as set out on this Regulation, and promote links to other Union-funded strategies. | |
| 5. The European CAP network and the national CAP networks shall collaborate and carry out joint activities with a view to achieving the objectives set out in paragraph 3. The European CAP network shall use a distinctive visual identity. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 22d | |
| Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) | |
| 1. Each Member State shall set up and operate an integrated administration and control system (the ‘integrated system’). It shall apply to the interventions listed in Article X (1), points (a) to (g). | |
| 2. To the extent necessary, the integrated system shall also be used for the management of [farm stewardship] referred to in Article 3 of this Regulation, and in all appropriate cases to the measures related to the provisions on support for outermost regions. | |
| 3. The integrated system shall comprise the following elements: | |
| (a) an agriculture monitoring system (AMS). The AMS is a procedure of regular and systematic observation, tracking and assessment of agricultural activities and practices by technological means, including Copernicus Sentinels satellite data; | |
| (b) a geo-spatial and animal-based application system (GSA). The GSA is a digital application tool for the beneficiary to declare agricultural activities and practices of the holding; | |
| (c) a land parcel identification system (LPIS); | |
| (d) a system for the identification and registration of animals; | |
| (e) a system for the identification of beneficiaries of the interventions listed in paragraphs 1 and 2; | |
| (f) a control and penalty system. Member States shall annually carry out administrative checks on the aid application and payment claims to verify legality and regularity. Those checks shall be supplemented by on-the-spot checks, which may be executed remotely with the use of technology. However, Member States may choose not to carry out on the spot checks where the eligibility conditions of measures are monitored under the agriculture monitoring system referred to in point (a) of this Article. | |
| 4. Member States shall annually assess the quality of the elements of the integrated system referred to in paragraph 3, points (a), (b) and (c), in accordance with the methodology set up at Union level. | |
| Where the assessment reveals deficiencies in the elements of the integrated system, Member States shall adopt appropriate remedial actions or, failing that, shall be requested by the Commission to set up a roadmap detailing the timeline for implementing the outstanding remedial actions. | |
| An assessment report and, where appropriate, the remedial actions and the timetable for their implementation shall be submitted to the Commission by 15 February following the calendar year concerned. | |
| 5. The Commission shall supply the satellite data, required for the agriculture monitoring system, free of charge to the authorities competent for the agriculture monitoring system or to suppliers of services authorised by those authorities to represent them. For the purpose of the quality assessment of the integrated system referred to in paragraph 4, the Commission shall provide them, free of charge, the necessary Very High Resolution imagery. The Commission shall remain the owner of the satellite data and imagery. | |
| 6. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Member States for the implementation and application of the integrated system Member States shall establish the European land monitoring system. It shall provide information to farmers to support sustainable management of their holdings. Furthermore, it shall provide data for CAP policy development and monitoring, and promote sharing of farm sustainability data. | |
| 7. The European land monitoring system shall comprise at least the data related to the elements of the integrated system referred to in paragraph 3 and, where applicable, data shared by farmers with public authorities in accordance with Article 10 of this Regulation. The Member States may provide additional services to enhance the European land monitoring system with other sources of information to the benefit of the farmers. | |
| 8. Where necessary to ensure that the integrated system provided for in this Article is implemented in an efficient, coherent and non-discriminatory way which protects the financial interests of the Union, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 of the NRPP Regulation, supplementing this Regulation with: | |
| (a) rules on the methodology set up at Union level for the annual quality assessment of the elements of the integrated system, referred to in paragraph (3), points (a), (b) and (c); | |
| (b) rules on the LPIS, referred to in paragraph 3, point (c). | |
| 9. The Commission may adopt implementing acts laying down rules on: | |
| (a) the form and content of, and arrangements for transmitting or making available to the Commission of: | |
| (i) the assessment report referred to in paragraph (4); | |
| (ii) the remedial actions provided by Member States; | |
| (b) basic features of, and rules on: | |
| (i) AMS; | |
| (ii) GSA; | |
| (iii) LPIS | |
| (iv) the European land monitoring system. | |
| 10. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 87(3) of the NRPP Regulation [committee procedure, examination procedure]. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 22e | |
| State aid | |
| 1. Save as otherwise provided for in this Article, Articles 107, 108 and 109 TFEU shall apply to support under this Regulation and Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 in relation to types of interventions laid down in Part II, Title I, Chapter IIa of that Regulation or to aid granted by Member States to undertakings in the Union fishery and aquaculture sector; | |
| 2. Articles 107, 108 and 109 TFEU shall not apply to support paid by Member States pursuant to and in accordance with this Regulation and to the national contribution to eligible costs provided by Member States for the CAP interventions referred to in Article X (1), points (d) to (f) and (h) to (r) or to the additional national financing provided for CAP interventions referred to in Article X (1), points (d) to (f) and (h) to (r), falling within the scope of Article 42 TFEU or to aid granted by Member States to undertakings in the Union fishery and aquaculture sector, falling within the scope of Article 42 TFEU. | |
| 3. Support provided by Member States referred to in paragraph 1 in relation to operations falling within the scope of Article 42 TFEU that is intended to provide additional financing for interventions referred to in Article X (1), points (d), (e), (f) and (h) to (r), of this Regulation for which Union support is granted at any time during the Plan period may only be made if it complies with this Regulation, and Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. | |
| 4. Member States shall not provide additional national financing for interventions referred to in Article X (1), points (a), (b), (c) and (g), of this Regulation. | |
| 5. For the agricultural, fishery and aquaculture products covered by Annex I to the TFEU, to which Articles 107, 108 and 109 thereof apply, the Commission may authorise, in accordance with Article 108 TFEU, operating aid in the sectors producing, processing and marketing those products, with a view to alleviating the specific constraints on farming, fisheries and aquaculture production in the outermost regions and the smaller Aegean islands as a result of their isolation, insularity, small size and extreme remoteness. | |
| Member States may grant additional financing for the implementation of interventions in outermost regions and smaller Aegean islands pursuant to this Regulation. In such cases, the Member States shall notify the additional financing to the Commission and the Commission may approve it in accordance with this Regulation as part of the Plans. Thus, aid notified shall be regarded as notified within the meaning of the first sentence of Article 108(3) TFEU. | |
| 6. By way of derogation from Article 211 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1184/200628, Articles 107, 108 and 109 TFEU shall not apply to payments to support local agricultural production and specific supply arrangements made by Member States in accordance with this Regulation. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 22f | |
| Rules applying to undertakings | |
| Where support is granted through CAP interventions referred to in Article X (1) of this Regulation to forms of cooperation between undertakings, it may be granted only to such forms of cooperation which comply with the competition rules provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| It shall apply from [OPOCE: [date of application of Regulation (EU) […] establishing the National and Regional Partnership Fund for the period 2028 to 2034]. | It shall apply from [OPOCE: [date of application of Regulation (EU) […] establishing the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2028 to 2034]. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 25a | |
| Transition Period | |
| A transition period of up to 18 months may be granted to Member States and managing authorities responsible for CAP Strategic Plans that so request in order to allow sufficient time for the effective design and implementation of the new monitoring systems. The Commission shall issue guidance on the application of the transition period. |
| SMR 8 | Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council6: Article 5(2) and Article 8(1) to (5), Article 12 with regard to restrictions on the use of pesticides in protected areas defined on the basis of Directive 2000/60/EC and Natura 2000 legislation Article 13(1) and (3) on handling and storage of pesticides and disposal of remnants |
| (6)Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 71, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/128/oj). |
| SMR 8 | Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council6: Article 5(2) and Article 8(1) to (5), Article 11 with regard to specific measures to protect the aquatic environment and drinking water, Article 12 with regard to restrictions on the use of pesticides in protected areas defined on the basis of Directive 2000/60/EC and Natura 2000 legislation Article 13(1) and (3) on handling and storage of pesticides and disposal of remnants, Article 14 with regard to Integrated Pest Management |
| (6)Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 71, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/128/oj). |
Back matter, 1
Parts that accompany the text rather than belong to it: explanatory statement, annexes, opinions appended by other committees. Collapsed.
Annex: declaration of input 1 block
The rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
Procedure pages and committee votes
How the committees handled the text and how their members voted on it. Collapsed.
Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 block
| Title | Establishing the conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034 | |
| References | COM(2025)0560 – C10-0169/2025 – 2025/0241(COD) | |
| Committee(s) responsible Date announced in plenary | AGRI 23.10.2025 | |
| Opinion by Date announced in plenary | REGI 23.10.2025 | |
| Rapporteur for opinion Date appointed | André Rougé 2.2.2026 | |
| Discussed in committee | 14.4.2026 | 6.5.2026 |
| Date adopted | 15.7.2026 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 20 18 0 |
Final vote by roll call by the committee asked for opinion 3 blocks
20 · For
- ECR
- Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Francesco Ventola
- ESN
- Irmhild Boßdorf
- EPP
- Pascal Arimont, Fredis Beleris, Daniel Buda, Christian Doleschal, Krzysztof Hetman, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Andrey Novakov, Marion Walsmann, Marta Wcisło, Iuliu Winkler
- Patriots
- Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Valérie Deloge, Tamás Deutsch, Fabrice Leggeri, André Rougé
18 · Against
- Renew
- Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly
- S&D
- Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Dragoş Benea, Klára Dobrev, Sérgio Gonçalves, Nora Mebarek, Sabrina Repp, Marcos Ros Sempere, Georgia Tramacere
- The Left
- Kathleen Funchion, Younous Omarjee, Valentina Palmisano
- Greens
- Rasmus Andresen, Cristina Guarda, Vladimir Prebilič
Connections
The dossier, the decisions on this text and its other versions.
No connections found for this item.
Sources & citation
Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.
- Data source
- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Retrieved
- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2026). “OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034”. Text, 16 July 2026. docId REGI-AD-786678. EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/REGI-AD-786678 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Data: EP Open Data API: document record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/documents/REGI-AD-786678 (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-text-regi-ad-786678,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034}},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-07-16},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/REGI-AD-786678}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/REGI-AD-786678},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Text. docId REGI-AD-786678. Data: EP Open Data API: document record (CC BY 4.0)}
}