Hansen acknowledges the significant hardships faced by farmers, including unstable income, bureaucratic burdens, and vulnerabilities in production.

Farmers with less than 10 hectares have already been exempted from certain CAP compliance checks, and there will be initiatives to improve access to loans and ensure fair pricing.

Future support will particularly focus on farmers who contribute to food security and environmental sustainability, especially in disadvantaged areas and for young or new farmers.

While Hansen's vision has garnered support from the European People's Party, it has faced criticism from the Greens for perceived weaknesses in climate and environmental policies.

Hansen's plans are informed by recommendations from the Strategic Dialogue on EU Agricultural Policy, which involved various stakeholders and aimed for comprehensive reforms.

EU Commissioner Christophe Hansen has unveiled new agricultural policy plans aimed at addressing the pressing concerns of farmers across Europe.

These plans come in the wake of widespread protests by farmers in 2024, who expressed frustration over bureaucracy, declining prices, and trade concessions to Ukraine, viewing Brussels as the root of their issues.

To bolster farmers' incomes, the EU intends to maintain direct payments, which constituted an average of 23% of agricultural income in 2020, based on farm size and adherence to environmental standards.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will undergo re-evaluation for the period after 2027, particularly in light of its recent negative perception among farmers.

Despite a substantial budget of 387 billion euros allocated over seven years for the CAP, many farmers feel that insufficient funds are reaching them.

In an effort to alleviate bureaucratic hurdles, Brussels is proposing better coordination among member state authorities and practical assessments of existing laws.

Looking ahead, technological advancements such as satellite monitoring will be explored to streamline controls and reporting requirements, with concrete proposals expected in the second quarter of 2025.