The 58th Conference of EU Paying Agencies Directors took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 19–21 November 2025, bringing together the EU Paying Agencies’ senior representatives to discuss innovation, simplification, data governance, and the evolving role of AI in implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as the future direction of the CAP development, with a strong focus on interoperability, AI applications, and green transition. The representative of the Lithuanian National Paying Agency (NPA) – Deputy Director Tomas Orlickas – took part in the event and familiarised the audience with the NPA achievements in carrying out the multiple objectives of the CAP in Lithuania.
The sessions of the 58th Conference of EU Paying Agencies’ Directors focused on several key themes, including:
• The use of AI in the administration of support schemes;
• Administrative simplification and improved institutional efficiency;
• Modernisation of processes and advancing the green transition in the agricultural sector.
Over three days, delegates engaged in high-level presentations, thematic workshops, pitches and exchanges on best practices – particularly on AI applications, administrative simplification, aerial monitoring, and performance audit findings.
During the conference a key intervention was made by Tomas Orlickas, Deputy Director of the National Paying Agency (NPA) of Lithuania: “Research and development activities for more effective implementation of Lithuania’s CAP Strategic Plan” In his presentation, Tomas Orlickas highlighted Lithuania’s comprehensive contribution to the EU-funded research, development, and innovation initiatives designed to strengthen the implementation of the CAP Strategic Plan and support the transition towards a more sustainable, modern, and data-driven agricultural sector. The Deputy Director presented Lithuania’s ongoing research and innovation initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency, accuracy, and strategic coherence of the country’s CAP Strategic Plan implementation.
The Deputy Director also pointed out that the NPA’s Research & Development activities are closely aligned with EU priorities for digital transformation, environmental performance, transparency, and administrative efficiency. Tomas Orlickas outlined the importance of environmental monitoring, modelling of agricultural practices and tools that help measure biodiversity, carbon impacts and land-use changes, that are essential for delivering the green architecture of CAP. The showcased key initiatives included a number of projects with a focus on GFarm being among them.
The Gfarm for Life initiative – together with ESA GTIF and related carbon and GHG monitoring work – aims to design, test, and validate reliable methods for assessing and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) balances in agriculture, forestry, and other land-use sectors (AFOLU). Key activities include:
- Creating the foundations for a national carbon-sequestration certification scheme, including the technological infrastructure, carbon registry platform, and mechanisms for data exchange and governance.
- Working with policymakers and sector stakeholders to update national GHG accounting approaches, regulatory frameworks, incentive structures, and role assignments.
Project tasks cover the development of methodologies, calculation tools, carbon mapping, as well as demonstrations, training sessions, and e-learning resources. The initiative will establish a system for monitoring soil organic carbon stocks, support the rollout of a carbon certification and monitoring framework, and deploy digital tools that help farmers operate more efficiently while contributing to EU climate-neutrality targets.
Within the project, the NPA is contributing to the development of a free carbon-credit platform, designed to simplify farmers’ participation and enable them to earn additional income. By providing access to open-source data, the project encourages broader farmer involvement and facilitates their ability to benefit from carbon credits.
The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, allowing other Paying Agencies to explore how similar innovation-focused approaches could strengthen CAP implementation across the EU. Overall, the conference underscored a shared commitment among EU Paying Agencies to modernisation, interoperability, and innovation, setting the stage for enhanced collaboration.