The European Parliament and Council of the European Union have given the green light for the new CAP proposals to become operational in 2023. This decision paves the way for a new CAP aimed at making the policy greener, fairer, more performance-based CAP.
The new CAP seeks to ensure a sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, and allow greater flexibility for member states in adapting the measures to local conditions.
A key feature of the new policy is the introduction of strategic plans at member-state level, enabling national governments to tailor the provisions of the CAP to the needs of their farming communities in cooperation with local authorities and relevant stakeholders. The policy is also the most environmentally ambitious to date, with a quarter of direct payments reserved for green farming practices. Moreover, it is the first CAP to include a social dimension aimed at guaranteeing adequate employment conditions for farm workers.
Member states have until 1 January 2022 to submit their draft strategic plans, after which the Commission will begin the process of evaluating these plans and providing feedback. The new CAP will take effect from 2023 and will apply until 2027.