1. DG AGRI’s assessment of the administrative burden on farms arising from the CAP
Conference on the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy
A simple CAP for Europe-a challenge for all
Brussels, 3-4 October 2006
European Commission
Directorate General
Agriculture and rural development - Agricultural laws and simplification unit
Valérie Adam

2. Background
Communication on « Simplification and Better Regulation for the Common Agricultural Policy », , COM (2005) 509 final
Council Conclusions on Simplification and Better Regulation for the Common Agricultural Policy, December 2005
Council of the European Union, , Presidency Conclusions

3. Objectives
Simplification should reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on farmers:
To achieve this, we need to identify and to assess the administrative burdens resulting for farmers from CAP-related measures, introduced by the 2003 CAP reform (in particular the single payment scheme)

4. Methodology Cooperate with a contractor (through a call for tenders)
Follows the EU methodology for assessing administrative costs as set out in COM (2005) 518 final
Focus on administrative burdens of CAP-related measures introduced by the 2003 CAP reform

5. Scope of the study
Measures to be covered:Single Payment Scheme (including cross compliance) and other direct payments:
Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003
Commission Regulation (EC) No 795/2004
Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004

6. Geographical scope
Our target: covering the diversity of implementation of the Single Payment Scheme
Our scope:
France (« historical model »- maximum use of re-coupling options)
Italy (« historical model »- some re-coupling options)
- Ireland (« historical model »-fully decoupled)
Denmark (« regional model »-static)
Germany (« regional model »-dynamic)

7. Assessing the administrative burden
For each measure….
Desk research
Interviews, questionnaires and other tools
Panels, experts and other tools
in order to…
1. Identify the information obligations imposed on farmers in the 5 countries
2. Identify the regulatory origin and target groups
3. Identify the required actions and their frequency
4. Identify the relevant cost parameters
7. Outlook for post 2006 administrative costs
6. Assessment of the 2006 overall administrative costs
5. Assessment price per action and their total number

8. Lessons learned Extrapolation of results across EU
Methodological approaches used

9. What next ? Conduct the study and finalise the results
Discuss (experts group meetings)
Take into account the results and draw conclusions (Action Plan)
Compare results of similar measurement exercices in Member States and work done outside the EU