• Simplifying the implementation of the CAP, along with reducing the administrative burden for beneficiary individuals and entities and for the administration, is an objective within the framework of the CAP 2023-2027.
• The survey is aimed at individuals and entities applying for and benefiting from the CAP.

One of the clearest and most ambitious objectives within the framework of the 2023-2027 CAP is to simplify the implementation of the CAP, along with reducing the administrative burden for beneficiary individuals and entities, and for the administration. Simplification is provided for in EU regulations, which establish that Member States, with the support of the European Commission, "shall adopt appropriate measures to reduce the administrative burden and ensure simplification in the implementation of the CAP" to achieve the general and specific objectives of the CAP, in addition to the cross-cutting objective.

For this reason, the PEPAC Evaluation Plan , prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ( MAPA ) in collaboration with the regions and taking into account the contributions of the Monitoring Committee, provides for a national evaluation in 2024 on simplification for beneficiaries and for the administration, which will allow for an investigation into the current state of this specific aspect.

Survey

To this end, the MAPA has launched a survey to gather the opinions of individuals and entities applying for and receiving CAP aid, including those receiving direct payments, sectoral interventions, and rural development assistance. This survey will analyze the administrative burden they face and propose possible improvements to reduce and simplify it in Spain, to the extent permitted by law.

The survey will be available until November 17 , 2024.

This survey is part of the general perspective of establishing simplification during this period, which can then be reviewed in the 2027 evaluation to understand the progress of simplification. This commitment to evaluating simplification at such an early stage is driven by its importance for both CAP beneficiaries and administrations. The conclusions and results of the evaluation will be taken into account to make appropriate modifications within the CAP's legal framework, if necessary.

You can also mention that at the community level, simplification evaluation studies are also being carried out, with the aim of improving this aspect in community regulations.

Next steps for simplification

Focusing on the national evaluation currently underway, an independent expert evaluation team (as indicated in Article 140 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115) is currently analysing how simplification has been taken into account in the design, management, monitoring and control of rules and processes related to the implementation of the CAP for both the administration and the beneficiary person or entity and the relationship between both, through communication.

In addition, the autonomous communities will prepare their own regional simplification assessments in 2025, taking into account their specific needs. Finally, the team responsible for conducting the assessment will produce a report incorporating the main conclusions from the regional and national assessments. This is, therefore, a summative assessment , offering conclusions and results at different territorial levels.

To develop these evaluations, there is an Evaluation Steering Group, which brings together national and regional evaluation officials (at the technical level) and evaluators. The work is being coordinated within this group.