Document type: Report published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Sovereignty
Author: EY
Abstract: As part of the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Sovereignty (MAASA) commissioned an evaluation of the impact of the National Strategic Plan (PSN) on animal welfare BEA) in France. […] This assessment was conducted from the perspective of animal welfare and covers the years 2023 and 2024, which are the first two years of the program’s implementation. The assessment analyzes the contribution of CAP interventions to the BEA, as well as their consistency and complementarity with other relevant measures. The work was carried out over a twelve-month period (January 2025–January 2026) and structured into three phases: scoping (January–March 2025), data collection and initial analysis phase (April–September 2025), and the finalization and recommendations phase (October 2025–January 2026).[…]
Recommendation 1: Ensure territorial equity in access to BEA measures, taking regional specificities into account
Implementation actions: ► Improve existing coordination among the Regions to make the BEA a cross-cutting objective of agricultural policy: strengthen regular dialogue between the central government and the Regions and establish shared touchpoints, so that the BEA systematically informs the design, targeting, and evaluation of all agricultural programs. ► Appoint a national BEA coordinator responsible for ensuring coordination among the Regions and guaranteeing consistent and equitable implementation of the programs throughout the country. ► Launch a collaborative process with underrepresented sectors to facilitate the adaptation and fine-tuning of BEA measures (investments, MAEC BEA) to the specific characteristics of the monogastric and rabbit farming sectors.[…]
Recommendation 2: Improve and strengthen training and support
Implementation actions: ► Develop a modular training program on BEA by sector (hands-on sessions on the farm, peer-to-peer feedback, short “BEA essentials” modules). ► Evaluate the effectiveness of training and support through systematic feedback from participants and simple indicators of practice adoption. ► Develop a training program on how to prepare grant applications for measures directly targeted at BEA. ► Map public and private best practices. […]
Recommendation 3: For the 2028 Programming Period, strengthen existing indicators with animal welfare -based impact indicators animal welfare the Welfare Quality methodology
Implementation actions: ► Extend the scope of R.44 or any other indicator related to animal welfare to all sectors, using a consolidation method at the Member State level (for example, to monogastric sectors). ► Conduct European studies on animal welfare based on the Welfare Quality methodology, which uses physiological, health, and behavioral characteristics to assess animal welfare on farms. ► Publish the results annually and hold a European review to adjust the systems. […]
Recommendation 4: For the 2028 Programming Period, strengthen the incentive effect and targeting of BEA aid by adjusting the eligibility criteria
Actions for implementation: ► Recalibrate the programs to strengthen the incentive effect (scales / funding allocations): – Reexamine the allocation of funding within the MAECs to increase the share dedicated to programs that contribute most directly to the BEA, for example by reassessing the relative weight of the MAEC HBV, while maintaining consistency with the objectives of existing MAECs. – Reevaluate the area-based compensation amounts for monogastric MAECs. ► Remove barriers to access and strengthen the leverage effect of on-farm BEA investments: – Differentiate aid ceilings and eligibility thresholds for on-farm investments that directly support the BEA. – Tailor eligibility parameters by sector and by type of system, taking into account technical/health constraints and farm sizes. ► Update sector-specific guides and instructions to clarify criteria, streamline the application review process, and explicitly define the expected levels of commitment.
