The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Briefing 01-09-2010

The CAP has been at the centre of European integration since the Treaty of Rome. The specific objectives of the CAP, as enshrined in the Treaties, have remained unchanged for more than fifty years. The upcoming reform of the CAP for the post-2013 period represents a politically sensitive issue. On the one hand, this is due to the considerable budgetary amounts involved. On the other hand, the imbalanced distribution of CAP payments between Member States has particularly been questioned. Organic farmers may receive support from the two pillars of the CAP (mainly agri-environmental payments, from the second pillar).