Artikelen bij COM(2025)560 - Conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034

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dossier COM(2025)560 - Conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Agriculture Policy for the period from 2028 to 2034.
document COM(2025)560 EN
datum 16 juli 2025

Inhoudsopgave

Article 1 - Subject matter

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].

This Union support shall be provided under the National and Regional Partnership Fund (the ‘Fund’) in accordance with the rules governing that Fund laid down in Regulation (EU) […] [NRP].

Article 2 - CAP national recommendations and steering

1. 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:

(a)contribution to fair and sufficient income for farmers and their long-term competitiveness, including the farmers’ position in the value chain;

(b)improvement of attractiveness of the profession and foster generational renewal;

(c)enhancing climate action, ecosystem services provision, circular solutions, the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, sustainable farming and improve animal welfare;

(d)improving resilience, farmers’ preparedness and ability to cope with crises and risks;

(e)enhancing the access to knowledge and accelerate innovation and the digital transition for a thriving agri-food sector.

The CAP national recommendations may be updated by the Commission, as appropriate.

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.

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].

Article 3 - Farm stewardship

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.

2. Payments under interventions referred to in Article 5(1), points (a) to (f), and points (o) and (p), to the extent they concern support for local agricultural products, shall be subject to compliance with a system of statutory management requirements and protective practices collectively referred to as ‘farm stewardship’. 

The list of statutory management requirements and the objectives of protective practices are set out in Annex I.

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).

3. Support subject to the farm stewardship conditions shall be deemed to comply with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ in accordance with Article 33(2), point (d), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

For the purposes of this Article, ‘statutory management requirement’ means each individual requirement listed in Annex I, Parts A and B, set out within a given legal act listed in Annex I, Parts A and B, differing in substance from any other requirement in the same act.

The legal acts listed in Annex I concerning the statutory management requirements shall apply in the version that is applicable and, in the case of Directives, as implemented by the Member States. Acts implementing directives may however not have the purpose or effect of an exemption of farmers or other beneficiaries from the statutory management requirements listed in Annex I, Parts A and B.

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:

(a)protection of carbon-rich soils, landscape features and permanent grasslands on agricultural area;

(b)protection of soil against erosion, preservation of the soil potential, maintenance of soil organic matter, including through crop rotation or diversification, as well as protection against burning of stubble on arable land;

(c)protection of water courses and ground water against pollution and runoff.

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.

6. Farmers whose entire holding is certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council 12 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).

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.

8. Member States may grant temporary derogations from protective practices, where weather conditions prevent farmers and other beneficiaries from implementing those practices or where the implementation of those protective practices would hamper the objectives set out in paragraph 4. Member States shall ensure that the temporary derogations are limited in their scope and duration to the extent necessary, granted based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria and that they do not hamper the objectives set out in paragraph 4 or distort competition.

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.

Article 4 - Environment and climate priority areas

1. Member States shall provide support to farmers and other beneficiaries at least in each of the following environmental and climate priority areas:

(a)climate change adaptation and water resilience;

(b)climate change mitigation including carbon removals and on-farm renewable energy production, including biogas production;

(c)soil health;

(d)preservation of biodiversity, such as conservation of habitats or species, landscape features, reduction of use of pesticides;

(e)development of organic farming;

(f)animal health and welfare.

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.

2. For each of the priority areas referred to in paragraph 1 support shall be provided under the conditions laid down in Articles 9, 10 and 13.

Article 5 - Types of support

1. The following CAP interventions are set out:

(a)degressive area-based income support;

(b)coupled income support;

(c)crop specific payment for cotton;

(d)payment for natural and other area specific constraints;

(e)support for disadvantages resulting from certain mandatory requirements;

(f)agri-environmental and climate actions;

(g)payment for small farmers;

(h)support for risk management tools;

(i)support for investments for farmers and forest holders;

(j)support for setting-up of young farmers, new farmers, rural business and start-ups and development of small farms;

(k)support for farm relief services;

(l)LEADER;

(m)support for knowledge sharing and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas;

(n)territorial and local cooperation initiatives;

(o)interventions in outermost regions;

(p)interventions in smaller Aegean islands;

(q)EU school scheme referred to in Title I, Part II, Chapter IIa, of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 13 ;

(r)interventions in certain sectors referred to in Title I, Part II, Chapter IIa, of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013;

(s)crisis payments for farmers.

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].

3. Production of hemp varieties with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content exceeding 0,3% shall not be eligible for support under this Regulation.

Article 6 - Degressive area-based income support

1. Member States shall provide area-based income support for eligible hectares to farmers to address income needs.

2. 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.

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.

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.

3. The total amount of payments per farmer established in accordance with paragraph 2 shall be degressive in accordance with the following rules:

(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;

(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;

(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.

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.

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.

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.

7. Member States shall ensure that the eligible hectare comprises only areas which are at the farmers’ disposal and which comprise:

(a)agricultural areas on which an agricultural activity is performed under the farmer’s controls in terms of management, benefits and financial risks. If non-agricultural activities are also performed on these areas, the agricultural activity shall be predominant;

(b)areas for which support is provided under Article 5(1), points (a) and (g), or under the basic income support for sustainability under Title III, Chapter II, Section 2, Subsection 2, 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 CAP environmental and climate priority areas referred to in Article 4;

(c)Member States may decide to include in the ‘eligible hectare’ landscape features, not covered by the commitments and schemes referred to in point (b), provided that these landscape features do not significantly hamper the performance of agricultural activity and are not predominant on the agricultural parcel.

Article 7 - Payment for small farmers 

1. 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.

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 annual payment for each small farmer shall not exceed EUR 3 000.

2. Member States may differentiate support granted under this Article for different groups of farmers or geographical areas.

Article 8 - Payment for natural or other area-specific constraints

1. Member States shall provide support to compensate farmers for natural or other area-specific constraints.

2. The payment for areas with natural and other specific constraints may be provided in respect of areas that:

(a)were designated pursuant to Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 14 ;

(b)are newly designated in view of specific constraints defined by Member States and have been included in the NRP Plan.

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.

The surface of the areas designated pursuant to the first subparagraph, point (b), shall not exceed 2 % of the utilised agricultural area of the Member State concerned.

3. The payments per eligible hectare shall be limited to the additional costs or loss of income related to undertaking agricultural production in the designated areas compared to production in non-designated areas.

Article 9 - Support for disadvantages resulting from certain mandatory requirements

1. Member States may provide area-based support in agricultural and forest areas for disadvantages resulting from the implementation of: 

(a)Council Directive 92/43/EEC 15 and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 16 ;

(b)Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 17 .

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.  

2. Payments under this Article may be granted to farmers, forest holders and their associations. 

3. Member States may only grant payments under this Article in order to compensate beneficiaries for all or part of the additional costs and income foregone related to the compliance with mandatory requirements resulting from the implementation of the Union acts and provisions listed in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, including transaction costs.  

Article 10 - Agri-environmental and climate actions

1. Member States shall provide incentives for the following actions beneficial for the climate, environment, animal health and welfare and sustainable forestry:

(a)voluntary management commitments taken up by farmers and other beneficiaries, including commitments to maintain organic farming and extensification of livestock production, established and implemented in accordance with paragraph 3;

(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.

2. Each Member State shall provide support for organic farming certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council 18  and extensive livestock production systems under both forms of action referred to in paragraph 1.

3. The management commitments referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), may be annual or multiannual and may have in particular the following objectives:

(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;

(b)climate change mitigation, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration, climate change adaptation, including animal and plant diversity for resilient ecosystems;

(c)animal health and welfare, including combating of antimicrobial resistance;

(d)sustainable use and development of genetic resources; or

(e)forest environmental services and forest conservation.

4. 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.

Member States shall pay the support to farmers in instalments over the period of implementation of the transition action plan. The payment of the last instalment shall be conditional upon completion of the implementation of the transition action plan. Member States shall ensure that the payments are recovered if the farmer fails to implement the transition action plan.

5. Member States shall only grant support for management commitments referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), which go beyond the relevant statutory management requirements referred to in Annex I, Part A, and the relevant minimum requirements for the use of fertiliser and plant protection products, animal welfare and other relevant mandatory requirements established by national and Union law.

However, where national law imposes requirements which go beyond the corresponding mandatory minimum requirements laid down in Union law, support may be granted for management commitments referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), contributing to compliance with those requirements.

Article 11 - Coupled income support

1. Member States shall provide coupled income support to farmers in specific agricultural sectors and products, where relevant defined in accordance with Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, or to specific types of farming therein, which undergo difficulties and are important for socio-economic or environmental reasons.

Coupled income support shall take the form of an annual payment per eligible hectare or per animal or per animal equivalent, defined in accordance with Annex II.

Member States may grant support in the form of a payment per hectare only for areas they have determined as eligible hectares in accordance with Article 6(7).

Support granted as a payment per hectare may include support for short rotation coppice and grasses and other herbaceous forage. Support shall not be granted to the tobacco and wine sectors.

Support granted as a payment per animal shall be limited to the beef and veal, milk and milk products, sheep and goat meat, apiculture products and silkworms sectors.

2. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall, on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria, address additional income needs.

3. When planning the support referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall minimise the potential impact of their support decisions on the internal market.

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.

Article 12 - Support for participation in risk management tools 

1. 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.

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.

2. Sectoral production risk management tools shall calculate the losses either at holding level, at the level of the holding’s activity in the sector concerned or related to the specific area insured.

For permanent crops and in other justified cases for which the calculation methods referred to in the first subparagraph are not appropriate, Member States may provide for a method for calculation of the losses based on the average annual production or income of the farmer over a period that does not exceed eight years, excluding the highest and lowest entry.

3. Member States may apply an appropriate alternative method for calculating the losses for young farmers and new farmers.

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. 

Article 13 - Support for investments for farmers and forest holders

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.

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. 

3. Support for investments in the restoration of agricultural or forestry production potential damaged by natural disasters, adverse climate events or catastrophic events shall be granted only when the event concerned has caused the destruction of at least 30 % of the agricultural production potential or at least 20 % of the forestry production potential.

4. Member States shall establish a list of ineligible investments and categories of expenditure, including at least the following:

(a)purchase of agricultural production rights;

(b)purchase of land for an amount exceeding 10 % of the total eligible expenditure for the operation concerned, with the exception of land purchase for environmental conservation and carbon-rich soil preservation;

(c)purchase of animals, and purchase of annual plants and their planting for a purpose other than:

(i)restoring agricultural or forestry potential following natural disasters, adverse climatic events or catastrophic events;

(ii)protecting livestock against large predators or being used in forestry instead of machinery;

(iii)rearing endangered breeds as defined in Article 2, point (24), of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council 19 under the management commitments referred to in Article 10(1), point (a);

(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;

(v)preserving plant varieties under threat of genetic erosion under the commitments referred to in Article 10(1), point (a);

(d)interest rate on debt, except in relation to grants given in the form of an interest rate subsidy or guarantee fee subsidy.

5. By way of derogation from paragraph 4, points (a), (b) and (c), that requirement shall not apply where the support is provided through financial instruments.

6. Where Union law results in the imposition of new requirements on farmers, support may be granted for investments to comply with those requirements for a maximum period of 36 months from the date on which they become mandatory for the holding.

Member States may only grant payments under this paragraph in order to compensate beneficiaries for all or part of the additional costs related to the compliance with those requirements.

For young farmers setting up for the first time in an agricultural holding as head of the holding support for investments to comply with the requirements of Union law may be granted for a maximum period of 36 months from the date of setting up, or until the actions defined in the business plan referred to in Article 14(3) are completed. Member States may only grant payments under this paragraph in order to compensate beneficiaries for all or part of the additional costs related to the compliance with those requirements.

Article 14 - Setting-up of young farmers, rural business start-up and development of small farms

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.

2. Member States may only grant support under this Article to help:

(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];

(b)the start-up of rural businesses linked to agriculture or forestry including the setting up of new farmers, or farm household income diversification into non-agricultural activities;

(c)the start-up of rural businesses;

(d)the business development of small farms, as determined by Member States.

3. Member States shall set conditions for the submission and the content of a business plan which beneficiaries must provide in order to receive support under this Article.

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.

Article 15 - Generational Renewal strategy

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:

(a)an assessment of the current demographic situation in the agricultural sector;

(b)identification of entry barriers for young farmers and proposed national initiatives and measures to overcome them;

(c)description of how the Starter pack for young farmers referred to in Article 16 will be utilised in the national context;

(d)synergies between measures contributing to generational renewal set out in the NRP Plan.

Article 16 - Starter pack for young farmers

1. The Starter pack for young farmers shall include a set of the following measures, in line with the Strategy on Generational Renewal in Agriculture referred to in Article 15;

(a)support for setting-up of young farmers in accordance with Article 14;

(b)degressive area-based income support for young farmers in accordance with Article 6;

(c)support for small farmers in accordance with Article 7 targeting young farmers;

(d)investment support with higher aid intensity for young farmers;

(e)possibilities of financing investments implemented by young farmers through the financial instruments in accordance with Article 71 of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP];

(f)support for rural business start ups;

(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];

(h)cooperation interventions facilitating intergenerational cooperation including farm succession in accordance with Article 74 of Regulation (EU) […] [NRP];

(i)support for farm relief services in accordance with Article 17;

(j)access to advisory services and training programs tailored to young farmers' needs, in accordance with Article 20.

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.

3. In order to facilitate access to the interventions referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall establish a single point of access for young farmers which may provide inter alia information on support opportunities and procedures and facilitate the entry and the establishment in the agricultural sector, including submission of funding applications and guidance.

Article 17 - Farm relief services

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.

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.

Article 18 - LEADER

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.

2. Member States shall support LEADER at least in rural areas with specific disadvantages defined by the Member States in the NPR Plans.

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. 

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. 

Article 19 - Support for knowledge sharing and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas

1. 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:

(a)to prepare and implement the projects of the EIP-AGRI operational groups as well as actions to ensure broader uptake of projects’ results;

(b)for actions to promote innovation, training and advice, skills development, advisory services and other forms of knowledge sharing and dissemination of information.

Support for advisory services shall only be granted for those advisory services that comply with Article 20(3).

2. The aim of EIP-AGRI shall be to accelerate development and use of innovations by improving the exchange of knowledge and fostering synergies between policies, actors and instruments in agriculture, forestry and rural areas. Results from its work shall be disseminated and multiplied through the AKIS.

The EIP-AGRI shall:

(a)support cooperation projects for innovation through operational groups based on the ‘interactive innovation model’ referred to in paragraph 4;

(b)link research and farming and forestry practice and inform the scientific community of the needs of those practices;

(c)connect innovation actors and projects, particularly via the Union and national CAP networks;

(d)promoting the use of innovative solutions through dissemination of information and knowledge, including farmer-to-farmer exchanges.

3. The projects implemented by the EIP-AGRI operational groups shall be based on the ‘interactive innovation model’ that complies with the following principles:

(a)develop innovative solutions focusing on the specific needs of farmers, forester holders and rural actors;

(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;

(c)the projects are co-created and co-decided among the actors involved in the projects and implemented in a consultative manner, including ensuring the potential for scale up.

Member States shall ensure that the key results of the projects referred to in this paragraph are disseminated through practice-oriented channels, including the national and Union CAP networks. The disseminated information shall include the objectives of the projects, participating partners, key thematic areas addressed, geographical location of the project, total budget, and the final outcome of the project, with focus on the practical innovative solutions developed.

4. Member States may grant support for projects of EIP-AGRI operational groups under the following conditions:

(a)support may only be granted on the basis of an approved project plan that is based on the principles referred to paragraph 3;

(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];

Member States shall set objective criteria and transparent requirements for the content, the duration, the submission and approval of project plans to be drawn up by the EIP-AGRI operational groups.

5. Member States shall not provide support under this Article to knowledge sharing and innovation involving research bodies only.

Article 20 - Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems and farm advisory services

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.

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:

(a)arrangements to ensure effective knowledge flows and synergies between advisors, researchers, practitioners, national CAP networks and other relevant stakeholders;

(b)actions to improve access for farmers and forest holders to impartial and qualified advice;

(c)support for innovation as a part of the farm advisory services, particularly support for the EIP-AGRI operational groups referred to in Article 19 including for the use of the ‘interactive innovation model’ referred to in Article 19(4);

(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;

(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;

(f)a system for provision of farm advisory services, established in accordance with paragraph 3.

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:

(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;

(b)targeted advice for young farmers, in particular as regards business management, access to finance, access to public support, access to knowledge and innovation.

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.

Article 21 - Authority in charge of data governance under the CAP

1. Each Member State shall designate one authority responsible for taking or coordinating actions to achieve and maintain national and cross-border interoperability between information systems used for the implementation, administration, monitoring and evaluation of the CAP for the benefit of farmers and other CAP beneficiaries. For the purposes of this Article, interoperability means the ability of information systems to interact with each other by sharing data by means of electronic communication. 

2. The designated authority shall have in particular the following tasks:  

(a)drawing up and submitting to the Commission a Roadmap at the level of the Member State to achieve and maintain interoperability (hereinafter the ‘Roadmap’) and follow up of Commission observations on the Roadmap;  

(b)coordination of the implementation, or, as decided by the Member State, implementation of the Roadmap in an efficient, effective and timely way.  

The Member States shall notify the Commission of the designation of the authority at the latest by [OPOCE: [within three months from the entry into force of this Regulation].   

3. The Roadmap referred to in paragraph 2 shall cover:

(a)identification of needs to achieve and maintain interoperability as referred to in paragraph 1, and design of measures to address them as well as timeframe with milestones and targets for their implementation;  

(b)identification of possible synergies with other Union and national interoperability initiatives.  

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. 

For the elements referred to in the first subparagraph, point (a), the Member State shall consider in particular the need to establish a single digital identity framework and shall consider alignment with Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, including as regards the European Digital Identity Wallet for natural and legal persons.

4. The Member States shall submit to the Commission by 16 December of each calendar year an annual report on the implementation of the Roadmap, assessing the progress of the implementation of the steps and measures and the timeframe set out in the Roadmap.

Where necessary, Member States shall submit to the Commission amendments of the Roadmaps together with the annual reports.

Member States shall submit the first annual report to the Commission by 16 December 2029.

5. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23, which are necessary to ensure that interoperability and seamless data exchange between information systems used for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CAP are implemented in an efficient, coherent, effective and timely manner, supplementing this Article with rules where the implementation of the Roadmap referred to in paragraph 2 so requires as well as rules on interoperability measures referred to in paragraph 3, point (b).

6. The Commission may adopt implementing acts laying down rules on:  

(a)form and content of the Roadmap and annual report;

(b)arrangements for transmitting or making available to the Commission the Roadmaps and annual reports. 

These implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 24.

Article 22 - Measures to resolve specific problems 

1. In order to resolve specific problems, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts which are both necessary and justifiable in an emergency. Such implementing acts may derogate from provisions of this Regulation to the extent and for such a period as strictly necessary. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 24(2).

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).

3. Measures adopted pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 shall remain in force for a period not exceeding 12 months. If after this period, the specific problems referred to in those paragraphs persist, the Commission may, in order to establish a permanent solution, submit an appropriate legislative proposal.

4. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of any measure adopted under paragraph 1 or 2 within two working days of its adoption.

Article 23 - Exercise of the delegation

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 21(6) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of seven years from [OPOCE: [date of entry into force of this Regulation]]. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the seven-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 21(6) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 21(6) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 24 - Committee procedure

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee called ‘Common Agricultural Policy Committee’. The Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 20 of the European Parliament and of the Council and shall have the task of issuing opinions on any implementing acts adopted pursuant to this Regulation.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, in conjunction with Article 5 thereof, shall apply.

Article 25 - Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from [OPOCE: [date of application of Regulation (EU) […] establishing the National and Regional Partnership Fund for the period 2028 to 2034].

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.