The Common Agricultural Policy, abbreviated as CAP, is the European Union agricultural policy, established under Article 33 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
The CAP is aimed at helping European farmers meet the need to feed more than 500 million Europeans. Its main objectives are to provide a stable, sustainably produced supply of safe food at affordable prices for consumers, while also ensuring a decent standard of living for 22 million farmers and agricultural workers.
The CAP is one of the most important EU policies from a budget point of view: agricultural spending accounts for around 40% of the EU budget. The legal framework is adopted jointly by the Council and the European Parliament. The implementation of the CAP is the responsibility of the Member States. The CAP has changed a lot since it was established in 1962, and continues to change today. The CAP 2023-2027 has a strong emphasis on results and performance. It seeks to ensure a sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, and allow greater flexibility for EU countries to adapt measures to local conditions.
The latest CAP reform covers three regulations, which generally apply from 1 January 2023: