Future CAP: A new way of working for the future of farming

Nine common EU objectives set the basis for the policy, reflecting high EU-level ambition for the CAP as a whole. From preserving biodiversity to ensuring fair income, supporting generational renewal to climate change action, the objectives cover a wide range of issues that aim to tackle emerging environmental, social and economic challenges.

Key aspects of the proposals

Better targeting for a fairer deal

To ensure stability and predictability, income support will remain an essential part of the CAP. Part of this, basic payments will continue to be based on the farm’s size in hectares. However, the future CAP wants to prioritise small and medium-sized farms and encourage young farmers to join the profession. This is why the Commission proposes:

• a higher level of support per hectare for small and medium-sized farms;
• to reduce the share of direct payments received above €60,000 per farm and to limit payments at €100,000 per farm, with a view to ensure a fairer distribution of payments;
• a minimum of 2% of direct support payments allocated to each EU country will be set aside for young farmers, complemented by financial support under rural development and measures facilitating access to land and land transfers;
• EU countries having to ensure that only genuine farmers receive support.

Higher ambition on environmental and climate action

Farmers play a key role in tackling climate change, protecting the environment and preserving landscapes and biodiversity. In its proposal, the European Commission sets high ambitions on environmental and climate change. Mandatory requirements include:

• preserving carbon-rich soils through protection of wetlands and peatlands; obligatory nutrient management tool to improve water quality, reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide levels;
• crop rotation instead of crop diversification.

Farmers will have the possibility to contribute further and be rewarded for going beyond mandatory requirements. EU countries will develop voluntary eco-schemes to support and incentivise farmers to observe agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment.

Farmers at the heart of Europe's society

Farmers are at the heart of Europe’s rural communities, providing vital public goods. The future CAP proposes to boost the development of rural areas by:

• helping new generations of farmers to join the profession, though mentoring of young farmers by more experienced ones, improving knowledge transfer from one generation to the next or developing succession plans;
• encouraging EU countries to do more at national level, for example through more flexible rules on taxation and inheritance, to improve access to land for young farmers;
• setting tougher food safety and quality requirements on farmers, by giving financial support only when complying with rules on reducing the use of pesticides or antibiotics for instance.