MEP Alexander Bernhuber (PPE) has raised concerns that the application process for the EU's Promotion of Agricultural Products (AGRIP) programme remains overly complex, effectively excluding smaller organisations unless they hire costly external consultancies. In a parliamentary question submitted on 8 April 2026, Bernhuber asks the European Commission whether it monitors the proportion of successful applications prepared with external support and what concrete measures it plans to introduce to simplify the programme.
The question highlights a persistent administrative burden that may disadvantage applicants from smaller Member States, where resources are more limited. Bernhuber points out that despite successive reforms, the required documentation still forces eligible organisations to engage external agencies, raising questions about equitable access to EU funding.
Concrete asks and policy direction
The MEP's question contains two specific requests: first, whether the Commission tracks the use of external consultancies in successful applications; second, what simplification measures are planned to make the programme accessible without professional support. The direction is clearly towards reducing administrative complexity and levelling the playing field for smaller actors.
Expected follow-up
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it acknowledges the problem and is willing to consider further simplification, or whether it maintains that current procedures are proportionate. This exchange could influence future AGRIP reforms and the broader debate on EU funding accessibility for small-scale agricultural producers.