Launched in 1962, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers. It aims to:
The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget.
To consolidate the role of European agriculture for the future, the CAP has evolved over the years to meet changing economic circumstances and citizens’ requirements and needs.
The CAP 2023-27 entered into force on 1 January 2023. Support for farmers and rural stakeholders across the 27 EU countries is based on the CAP 2023-27 legal framework and the choices detailed in the CAP Strategic Plans, approved by the Commission. The approved Plans are designed to make a significant contribution to the ambitions of the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy.
Factsheet – a greener and fairer CAP
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Farming is unlike most other businesses, as the following special considerations apply:
While being cost-effective, farmers should work in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, and maintain our soils and biodiversity.
Business uncertainties and the environmental impact of farming justify the significant role that the public sector plays for our farmers. The CAP takes action with the following measures:
The level of support for EU farmers from the overall EU budget reflects the many variables involved in ensuring continued access to high quality food, which includes functions such as income support to farmers, climate change action, and maintaining vibrant rural communities.
The CAP is financed through two funds as part of the EU budget:
Payments are managed at national level by each EU country. Information about the recipients of CAP payments is published by each country, in accordance with EU transparency rules.
Financing the CAP
EU annual budget life-cycle
EU budget
The CAP defines the conditions that will allow farmers to fulfil their functions in society in the following ways:
The European Commission regularly consults civil dialogue groups and agricultural committees to best shape law and policies governing agriculture. Expert groups provide input to the European Commission, such as the agricultural market task force on unfair trading practices.
The Commission carries out impact assessments when planning, preparing and proposing new European legislation, examining a need for EU action and the possible impacts of available solutions. They are a key part of the EU’s better regulation agenda. Impact assessments for agriculture and rural development took place in 2003 (mid term review), 2008 (health check – SEC(2008) 1885), 2011 (CAP towards 2020 – SEC(2011) 1153 final), and 2018 (support for strategic plans post 2020 – SWD(2018) 301 final).
The EU's Court of Auditors also plays a major role in supervising expenditure in agriculture.
The Commission regularly publishes public opinion reports (also called Eurobarometer) on Europeans' views on agriculture and the CAP. The Eurobarometer surveys, run in all EU countries, provide valuable information on citizens’ perception of the CAP. This includes awareness of the support provided through the CAP, its performance, quality matters, environment, the importance of the CAP and much more.
In line with its transparency and monitoring requirements, the Commission put together an online dashboard presenting the targets set at national level by each EU country in its approved CAP Strategic Plan.
The CAP legislation includes 44 “result indicators”, linked to specific objectives. Not all 44 targets need to be included in each CAP Strategic Plan. Targets take into account the needs and the planned measures decided at national level.
The Commission assesses the CAP through the common monitoring and evaluation framework (CMEF).
The aim of the CMEF is to demonstrate the achievements of the CAP during the 2014-20 period and improve its efficiency through CAP indicators.
The legal basis for the common agricultural policy is established in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The CAP 2023-27 is covered by three regulations, which generally apply since 1 January 2023:
The following four regulations set out the different elements of the CAP 2014-20:
For the years 2021-22, a transitional regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/2220) was in force. The regulation laid down conditions for the provision of support from the EAGF and EAFRD during these years, extending and amending provisions set out in the preceding regulations. It remained in force until the new CAP began.
The CAP is managed by the Commission's department for agriculture and rural development. It can adopt delegated and implementing acts to implement the common agricultural policy.
Directory of legislation in force
EU's law-making process explained
Car makers in Europe are being encouraged to stop using touchscreens for basic functions like turn signals and wipers in an attempt to promote safer driving. As reported by the Times, the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) — an independent and well-regarded safety body for the automotive industry — is set to introduce new rules in January 2026 that require the vehicles it assesses to have physical controls to receive a full five-star safety rating.
While Euro NCAP testing is voluntary, it is widely backed by several EU governments with companies like Tesla, Volvo, VW, and BMW using their five-star scores to boast about the safety of their vehicles to potential buyers.
“The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem”
“The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem, with almost every vehicle-maker moving key controls onto central touchscreens, obliging drivers to take their eyes off the road and raising the risk of distraction crashes,” said Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP, to the Times. To be eligible for the maximum safety rating after the new testing guidelines go into effect, cars will need to use buttons, dials, or stalks for hazard warning lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, SOS calls, and the horn.
Some manufacturers like Tesla and Volkswagen have gained a reputation for placing basic vehicle controls behind touch-sensitive interfaces. There’s no shortage of complaints about such features, but equipment manufacturers continue to push touchscreen interfaces because they’re more cost-effective to produce than physical buttons and dials.
The Euro NCAP’s safety guidelines aren’t a legal requirement, however, car makers take safety ratings pretty seriously, so any risk of points being docked during such assessments is likely to be taken into consideration. “As this work is in progress, we have not yet finalized the evaluation procedure,” Avery told the Verge. “However, it is our intention to adopt these new requirements in 2026 as stated and the vehicle manufacturers are aware and are in support of the initiative.”