The European Commission has recently published its proposal for a simpler, more targeted, and future-oriented Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028–2034.
Since its introduction in 1962, the CAP has been one of the EU’s most long-standing and important policies. It supports farmers and rural communities across all Member States, ensuring a stable supply of affordable, high-quality food while safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods. By protecting those who provide safe and sustainable food for 450 million Europeans, the CAP remains a cornerstone of European integration and solidarity.
As the current CAP framework concludes in 2027, the next chapter is being designed around the following four goals, aiming to build on past successes while addressing new challenges:
1. A More Impactful EU Budget for Agriculture and Rural Areas
The new CAP seeks to create a more impactful EU budget for agriculture and rural areas. This involves simplifying management procedures for national administrations while ensuring strategic planning that responds to local needs and sector-specific challenges. The new approach aims not only to support farmers, but also to improve living conditions in rural areas. By strengthening connectivity, guaranteeing essential services such as childcare and healthcare, and expanding access to education and skills development, the CAP will help rural communities become more attractive places to live and work, encouraging younger generations to settle there.
2. More Targeted Support for Farmers
Assistance will focus on those who need it most, including young farmers, small and mixed farms, and those working in areas with natural constraints. These groups will benefit from fully EU-financed support. At the same time, aid for larger farms will be capped or reduced, allowing for a fairer distribution of resources and a stronger emphasis on equity.
3. A More Flexible, Results-Driven Policy
The CAP will become increasingly outcomes-oriented, with Member States taking greater responsibility for achieving shared objectives. This flexibility will allow each country to direct support to its specific priorities, tailoring actions to maximize contributions to Union goals. Simplification remains central to this vision, reducing bureaucracy while strengthening accountability.
4. Supporting Environmental Action and Farm Resilience
The proposal sets out to prevent soil degradation, protect rivers, wetlands, and peatlands, and preserve biodiversity. Member States will define their own best practices, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach towards a more balanced and adaptable system. Farmers will be encouraged to adopt risk management strategies and take preventive measures, supported by co-financed tools such as improved crisis payments for insured farms affected by natural disasters.
In addition to the CAP legal framework, the European Commission is also proposing revisions to the Common Market Organisation Regulation. These include promoting healthy eating and reconnecting children with farming through school schemes that prioritize locally sourced products, creating a new sector for protein crops to strengthen value chains at regional, national, and transnational levels, and protecting meat-related terms in order to maintain high production standards and safeguard consumer trust.
The next 2028-2034 CAP offers an immense opportunity to shape the future of European agriculture and rural development: simpler, fairer, greener, and more resilient. Consulting the European Commission’s Agriculture and Rural Development website is an excellent first step to stay informed and ready for upcoming calls.