Preparing the SUMMA transition on the ground – best practices for entities of the 2026 and 2027 wave

While the SUMMA experts are working flat out behind the scenes to build the system for these entities, it is time to start preparing for this major change on the ground. From change management initiatives to user acceptance testing and comprehensive training, DG AGRI has already been through every step of the process and is ready to share its experience. Following on from the pilot agencies ERA and CINEA, discover now some of AGRI’s best practices to help you ensuring your own seamless transition to SUMMA.  

Without further ado, let's give the floor to our colleagues from DG AGRI: 

DG AGRI: Paving the way for the first major payment to be processed in SUMMA 

SUMMA went live on 1 January 2025, but preparations for the SUMMA transition on the ground started much earlier, with reflections on the impact of the new financial system, the processes that would be affected and how to prepare them for D-Day. It became clear that we would need to completely re-engineer the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) process and change the way we manage DG AGRI's EAGF shared management payments, which make up the bulk of our budget. 

In this re-engineering and adaptation to SUMMA, collaboration between the different units was key. We had regular meetings with DG BUDG, but for a large DG like DG AGRI it was crucial to ensure that all categories of colleagues affected by the transition to SUMMA were involved. To do this, we organised weekly meetings with all colleagues from budget, finance, audit and IT, where information could circulate quickly and everyone could act accordingly. These meetings were not always easy, but they provided an important platform for sharing information and discussing both business and technical issues, leading to better understanding and more effective implementation. Collaboration tools and the AGRI shared drive were also very useful for working together and to making all useful information available.  

Last but not least, the personal commitment of everyone involved has been crucial. During the last months and especially during the migration from ABAC to SUMMA, many colleagues had to be available to ensure that all operations were correctly migrated to SUMMA. All in all, AGRI payments in SUMMA have been made on time and colleagues are getting used to the new system. 

Many thanks to the DG AGRI colleagues for their valuable insights!