Launched in 1962, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) aims to:
Support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food;
Safeguard European Union farmers to make a reasonable living;
Help tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources;
Maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU;
Promote jobs in farming, agri-food industries and associated sectors.

The first reforms to introduce climate considerations into the CAP took place in 2013. The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget.

Common Agricultural Policy

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Laws and Policies

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CCLW national policies

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

Law passed

This resolution discusses options for reform to the Common Agricultural Policy in order to respond to the challenges of food security, climate change and territorial balance.

Overview of CAP Reform 2014-2020

Information on the Common Agricultural Policy

The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future (European Parliament Resolution of 23 June 2011)

2023-2027 farm policy adopted by Parliament

The CAP 2014-2020 has been reformed by strengthening its greening aspects. Climate mitigation and adaptation are explicitly among the key objectives of the CAP, which accounts for about 30% of the overall EU budget/ MFF 2014-2020. The greening measures in the CAP 2014-2020 particularly increase the carbon sink by encouraging more grassland, the protection of forest cover and address the challenges of soil quality. It makes direct payments to farmers conditional upon compliance with greening measures, which account for 30% of the overall direct payments (pillar I). These measures include crop diversification, conserving 5% (and later 7%) of areas of ecological interest and maintaining permanent grassland. 30% of the budget within the rural development programmes (pillar II) is to be dedicated to agri-environmental measures, projects related to environmentally friendly investment or innovation measures as well as to support for organic farming. It further improves agri-environmental measures via higher environmental protection targets.On November 23, 2021, the EU Parliament agreed on a broad reform of the PAC, that needs to be approved by the Council. The new framework will enter into force on January 1, 2023.

Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 laying down certain transitional provisions of support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in the years 2021 and 2022 

Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 laying down certain transitional provisions of support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in the years 2021 and 2022 (Consolidated text)

Regulation (EU) 2024/3242 amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 as regards specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters

Transition Regulation adopted

Amended

This regulation was approved in December 2020 to lay down transitional provisions for the Common Agricultural Policy that will apply until the end of 2022. The Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 remains in force because, although it only covered CAP support for 2021–2022, its legal and administrative effects extend beyond those years and there is no automatic repeal clause.The Regulation (EU) 2024/3242 amends Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 to introduce additional temporary and exceptional measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) aimed at providing extra assistance to farmers, forest‑holders and rural businesses in Member States affected by natural disasters from 1 January 2024 onwards.

Regulation 2021/2117 laying down measures for agricultural markets and products

Regulation 2021/2117 laying down measures for agricultural markets and products (Consolidated text)

Regulation passed

This regulation amends previous EU regulations relating to agricultural product market organisation, quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, geographical indications of aromatised wine products and agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union.

Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 laying down measures for agricultural markets and products

Regulation 2021/2116 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy 

Regulation (EU) 2024/1468 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116 as regards good agricultural and environmental condition standards, schemes for climate, environment 

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1408  as regards the payment of advances for certain interventions and support measures

Regulation 2021/2116 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy  (consolidated text)

<ul>
<li>This regulation sets the overarching framework for the financing, management and monitoring of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the 2021‑2027 period, replacing Regulation 1306/2013. It lays down rules on how EU funding is allocated through the two main CAP funds (EAGF EAFRD), how Member States must organise governance, control and reporting systems, and how expenditures must be cleared and conform to Union requirements.<a href="https://www.euro-access.eu/_media/file/680_CELEX_02021R2116-20240525_EN_TXT.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_self"> </a>The regulation also emphasises greater subsidiarity (more national responsibility), monitoring by results instead of only transaction‑based checks, and a stronger link between CAP support and the Union’s climate, environmental and rural‑development objectives.</li>
<li>Regulation (EU) 2024/1468 amends Regulation 2021/2116 to simplify CAP rules, removing the annual performance clearance procedure, improving data governance, and aligning reporting with Regulation 2021/2115. It also eases conditionality checks, exempting small farmers from certain compliance controls and penalties, making CAP implementation more flexible.</li>
</ul>

Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 repealing Regulation (EU) 1306/2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the CAP

Law on the implementation of conditionality under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP Conditionality Law - GAPKondG)

Published

This Act serves to implement Title III, Chapter I, Sections 2 and 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 - Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It brings the basic requirements for farm management, maintenance of land in good agricultural and ecological condition (GAEC), such as:
<ul>
<li>maintenance of permanent grasslands</li>
<li>minimum protection for wetlands and moors</li>
<li>minimum proportion of arable land to non-productive areas</li>
<li>environmentally sensitive permanent grassland</li>
</ul>

CAP Integrated Administration and Control System Act - GAPInVeKoSG

This Act serves to implement the provisions on the Integrated Administration and Control System of the legal act of the European Union amending Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 laying down rules for the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy.
The Integrated Administration and Control System shall include:
<ul>
<li>a system for identifying agricultural parcels,</li>
<li>a geodata-based application system and, where appropriate, an animal-related application system,</li>
<li>an area monitoring system by 1 January 2024 at the latest,</li>
<li>a system for identifying farm owners and</li>
<li>a control and sanction system.</li>
</ul>

CAP Direct Payments Act - GAPDZG

This law serves to implement the rules on direct payments established by the Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy.The act establishes the provisions and rules for direct payments considering:
<ul>
<li>basic income support for sustainability</li>
<li>complementary income support for sustainability</li>
<li>support for young farmers</li>
<li>climate and environmentally related payments in which the farmer is paid by voluntary commitments he has made to comply with climate and environmental regulations (eco-regulations)</li>
</ul>

Law on the implementation of direct payments financed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP Direct Payments Act - GAPDZG)

Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - Consolidated text

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/648 on the amount of Union support for types of intervention for rural development for financial year 2023

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/946 as regards Member States’ allocations for direct payments

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/813 on Member States’ allocations for direct payments and the annual breakdown by Member State of the Union support for rural development

Regulation (EU) 2024/1468 as regards good agricultural and environmental condition standards, schemes for climate, environment and animal welfare,

Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 passed

This Regulation sets out how EU Member States design and implement their CAP Strategic Plans for the period 2023-2027, covering direct payments to farmers, sectoral interventions and rural development funding. It ties CAP support to seven specific objectives (e.g., viable farm income, climate change mitigation adaptation, ecosystems/biodiversity) and establishes a performance and monitoring framework to ensure that these objectives are met.The amendments brought further specification of the reporting, monitoring and verification of the Strategic Plans. Also, The Regulation 2024/1468 improves the conditionality system (good agricultural and environmental conditions), revisions to eco-schemes for climate/environment/animal welfare, review provisions of the Strategic Plans, and exemptions from control and penalties in specific circumstances.

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Law on the implementation of conditionality under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP Conditionality Law - GAPKondG)

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Common Agricultural Policy

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