Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

What is the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)?

The CAP stands for the Common Agricultural Policy and is one of the most important areas of European policy. The CAP was introduced in 1962 in what was then the European Union with the goals of promoting a crisis-resistant agricultural sector, ensuring the income security of European farmers, supporting environmental and climate protection, and promoting the development of rural areas. To achieve this, decisions are made at the EU level between member states and supported by over 40% of the entire EU budget. In the current period, this amounts to around 387 billion euros from 2021 to 2027.

Since the agricultural sector is so significant for many countries, and the support programs are well-funded and distributed through direct payments, the CAP has a very strong influence on what happens in the fields. For this reason, it is often a source of discussion and conflict between farmers and governments, as well as between nations within the EU.

Since 2023, the Common Agricultural Policy has also increasingly promoted environmental, nature, and climate protection, so that the European climate goals can be achieved together with the EU's “Green Deal.”