Policies/Politiques : The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future

Source: European Commission.
Commission Communication on the CAP towards 2020, Brussels, 18 November 2010.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is confronted with a set of challenges, some unique in nature, some unforeseen, that invite the EU to make a strategic choice for the long-term future of its agriculture and rural areas.


Read the Commission Communication.

Citizens' summary
Agriculture in Europe after 2013

WHY DOES THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) NEED A REFORM?
The CAP needs reforming:
• so as to better address the challenges of:
o food security
o climate change and sustainable management of natural resources
o looking after the countryside and keeping the rural economy alive.
• to help the farming sector become more competitive and to deal with the economic crisis
and increasingly unstable farm-gate prices.
• to make the policy fairer, greener, more efficient and more effective and more
understandable.

WHO WILL BENEFIT AND HOW?
• Everyone will benefit from greater food security, a better environment, action to fight climate
change, and a living countryside.
• Farmers and rural areas will benefit from a more balanced, equitable and stable policy, and
new investment opportunities.

WHY DOES ACTION HAVE TO BE TAKEN AT EU LEVEL?
• The challenges facing the EU farming sector go beyond national borders and require
common rules and action, in particular relating to food supplies.
• Farmers in all EU countries compete on the single EU market - it is up to the EU to
ensure a level playing field and that the market functions properly.

WHAT EXACTLY WILL CHANGE?
• All aspects of the CAP should change to cope with the challenges mentioned above.
• Direct payments to farmers will:
o better reflect the public service that farmers provide (e.g. efforts to protect the
environment)
o help support farming even in the most disadvantaged areas
o be more fairly distributed, and aimed at active farmers.
• Market management tools will be simplified.
• Rural development policy will focus on increasing competitiveness and promoting
innovation.
• New options will be introduced to help farmers cope with price and income volatility.

WHEN IS THE PROPOSAL LIKELY TO COME INTO EFFECT?
Proposals for new rules are expected in mid 2011. The new rules should come into effect in 2014.