Two Romanian MEPs from the European People's Party have asked the European Commission to propose a European legal framework for payments to farmers who provide measurable ecosystem services, warning that without clear financial incentives green policies risk being seen as a burden rather than an opportunity for rural areas.
In a written parliamentary question submitted on 14 June 2026, Daniel Buda and Dan-Ştefan Motreanu argue that farmers are increasingly required to contribute to environmental and climate goals through practices that reduce emissions, protect soil, conserve water, preserve landscapes and support biodiversity. However, they note that adaptation costs are immediate while economic benefits remain uncertain, insufficient or difficult to access due to bureaucracy.
The MEPs ask two concrete questions. First, whether the Commission intends to propose a European legal framework for payments for ecosystem services provided by farmers, going beyond the existing Carbon Farming Framework, based on measurable indicators and simplified procedures. Second, they request interim results of actions announced in the Roadmap towards Nature Credits.
The question reflects a policy orientation toward linking agricultural subsidies more directly to environmental performance, shifting from obligations to compensated public goods. It targets a potential expansion of the EU's carbon farming and nature credit initiatives into a broader, simplified payment mechanism.
Under Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the executive is considering legislative steps in this direction or prefers to rely on existing voluntary schemes.