Common agricultural policy (CAP)

The EU's common agricultural policy has secured food for generations of Europeans since its adoption in 1962. 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the EU's common agricultural policy and the EP held a ceremony to commemorate this date during its June plenary session in Strasbourg.

During the negotiations on the CAP legislative reform package, MEPs insisted that strengthening biodiversity and adhering to the EU’s environmental and climate laws and commitments will be key to the implementation of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), taking effect in 2023.

While the Commission will assess whether national CAP strategic plans are in line with these commitments, farmers will have to comply with climate and environmentally-friendly practices. Member states will be obliged to ensure that at least 35% of the rural development budget and at least 25% of direct payments will be dedicated to environmental and climate measures.

MEPs ensured that a minimum of 10% of direct payments will be used to support small and medium-sized farms and at least 3% of the CAP budget will go to young farmers. They also insisted that a crisis reserve with an annual budget of €450 million (in current prices) will be permanently ready to help farmers with price or market instability. As a result of Parliament’s pressure, EU labour rules in agricultural sectors will be better monitored and infringements penalised thanks to the cooperation between national labour inspectors and CAP paying agencies.