AGRI Committee approves provisional agreement on CAP simplification package
The European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) has approved a provisional agreement to simplify EU common agricultural policy (CAP) requirements by 34 votes to three, with one abstention. The package aims to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens on farmers during the current CAP programming period. Key provisions include allowing land classified as arable on 1 January 2026 to retain this status without ploughing, tilling or reseeding, and implementing a 'once-only' principle, whereby farmers are subject to no more than one official on-the-spot check per year. The provisional agreement will require approval by Parliament in a future plenary session, followed by Council approval before it can enter into force.