{"id":119898,"date":"2026-03-18T00:01:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=119898"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:48:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:48:54","slug":"complaint-to-the-eu-watchdog-engos-question-eu-commissions-handling-of-the-cap-reform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/complaint-to-the-eu-watchdog-engos-question-eu-commissions-handling-of-the-cap-reform\/","title":{"rendered":"Complaint to the EU watchdog: eNGOs question EU Commission\u2019s handling of the CAP Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">18 March 2026, Brussels &#8211;<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<strong>The European Environmental Bureau (EEB)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Europe&#8217;s largest network of environmental NGOs \u2013 has today lodged a formal complaint with the European Ombudswoman regarding the European Commission&#8217;s handling of the proposals for the National and Regional Partnership (NRP) and the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP)\u202ffor the period 2028 to 2034.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The complaint centres on potential maladministration by the Commission, citing a failure to:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">conduct an\u00a0adequate impact\u00a0assessment\u00a0or\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0that decisions were based on the best available evidence\u00a0[1];\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">carry out a climate consistency assessment, as required by Article 6(4) of the EU Climate Law;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">organise a\u00a0dedicated\u00a0public consultation\u00a0on the CAP.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The above\u00a0points\u00a0illustrate\u00a0a\u00a0failure\u00a0by the Commission to respect the Better Regulation Guidelines when preparing any proposal.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Th\u00e9o Paquet, Senior Policy Officer for Agriculture at the EEB, said:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The\u00a0Common Agricultural Policy\u00a0is\u00a0one of\u00a0the EU\u2019s\u00a0most\u00a0influential\u00a0tools\u00a0to support and steer farming, yet the Commission\u00a0is pushing\u00a0for\u00a0major changes without\u00a0running\u00a0the\u00a0simplest\u00a0of\u00a0economic, environmental,\u00a0and\u00a0social impact checks.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Alarmingly, this lack of transparent,\u00a0science-based\u00a0policymaking\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0an exception,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0becoming standard practice.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Francesca Carlsson, Policy Manager for Environmental Law and Justice at the EEB, said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8220;<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Commission has committed itself to a set of rules and minimum standards that it needs to heed regardless of political preferences or industry pressures. Public consultations and impact assessments are not tick-box exercises that can be cut for the sake of expediency. Rather they are legal and democratic necessities which foster trust in and legitimacy of the European Union<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">.&#8221;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The EEB warns that this lack of due diligence\u00a0leaves policymakers and citizens in the dark about the consequences for farmers, rural communities, and the environment. It also sets a gravely concerning precedent.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This complaint follows\u00a0previous\u00a0complaints filed against the Commission for its handling of the CAP \u201csimplification\u201d of 2024 and the first Omnibus package, where the Ombudswoman has already declared that the Commission committed maladministration by\u00a0failing to follow\u00a0its own rules\u00a0[2].\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The CAP\u00a0constitutes\u00a0the largest share of taxpayer money in the EU budget and is legally required to support EU climate and biodiversity\u00a0objectives. Failure to preform even basic checks on a proposal of such\u00a0magnitude\u00a0is highly problematic.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The EEB calls\u00a0for transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based policymaking\u00a0\u2013\u00a0as per the Commission\u2019s\u00a0own\u00a0rules \u2013 to ensure that Europe\u2019s largest budget and the future of EU food and farming\u00a0align\u00a0with\u00a0public interest\u00a0and\u00a0climate and nature goals.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<strong>ENDS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Notes for editors\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">[1]\u00a0More than half a year after the publication of the\u00a0CAP\u00a0proposal,\u00a0the\u00a0Commission\u00a0has\u00a0published a series of analytical briefings (fifteen\u00a0at the time of publication) which provide background analysis. These\u00a0do\u00a0not\u00a0equate\u00a0to\u00a0a thorough\u00a0impact assessment. The\u00a0Better Regulation Guidelines specify that in the exceptional circumstances, such as a formal derogation procedure,\u00a0where an impact assessment is not produced, an analysis must be provided within three months of the Commission&#8217;s adoption of the initiative. Given the\u00a0date of publication,\u00a0and absence of a formal derogation procedure, these briefings cannot substitute the required impact assessment.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">[2] EU watchdog slams Commission\u2019s undemocratic environmental rollbacks.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdlife.org\/news\/2025\/11\/27\/eu-watchdog-slams-commissions-undemocratic-environmental-rollbacks\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">BirdLife\u00a0International\u00a0press release<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>18 March 2026, Brussels &#8211;\u00a0The European Environmental Bureau (EEB)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Europe&#8217;s largest network of environmental NGOs \u2013 has today lodged a formal complaint with the European Ombudswoman regarding<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":666,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[118,116,3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture","category-nature-agriculture","category-news","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Farming-9.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119898\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}