The green light for a modern CAP?

As a part of EU budget negotiations over the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), EU heads of state and government agreed in February 2013 to cut the overall agriculture and natural resources budget by 11.3%. It will decrease from €420 billion for the 2007-13 period to €373 billion for the 2014-2020 period. The decision means that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will account for around 36% of the 2014-2020 EU budget, thus remaining the largest part of the MFF.

At first glance, an uninitiated observer would probably come to the conclusion that there is a broad consensus in favour of a policy perceived as vital for the future of the EU. However, the story is much more complicated than that. Debate over the CAP’s future is still ongoing and the policy is a continuous source of friction between member states, as well as between NGOs and farmers. Opponents of the CAP vividly argue that it is irrational in its spending, because it is too costly, primarily benefits large farms, and is not adapted to the overall economic context. Its supporters deem it to play an essential role in enhancing food security, securing farmers’ incomes and enabling them to compete globally.