The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (AGRI) resumed discussions on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on 2 September. It was the Committee’s first meeting on the issue after a summer marked by severe drought and wildfires across Europe.

Norbert Lins, the MEP leading Parliament’s work on the file, confirmed that almost 3.500 amendments have been submitted to his draft report. The detailed work on these proposals is now under way.

One of the main issues under discussion is who should qualify as an “active farmer” and therefore receive CAP support. Some MEPs want stricter rules, including a requirement for farmers to live in the EU. Others want a broader definition that would allow part-time farmers and pensioners to continue receiving support as long as they are actively farming.

MEPs also have different views on whether there should be a limit on the amount of direct payments a farm can receive. Proposals range from a maximum of €60.000 per farm to having no limit at all. There are also different views on whether CAP payments should be linked to social and employment conditions.

For the hunting community, these discussions are important because the CAP provides funding for measures that support farmland habitats and biodiversity. The final rules will also determine which farmers can access this support.