Since its creation, the CAP has always been adapted to respond to the challenges of its time. Significant reforms have been made in recent years, notably in 2003 and during the CAP Health check in 2008, to modernise the sector and make it more market-oriented. The Europe 2020 strategy offers a new perspective. In this context, through its response to the new economic, social, environmental, climate-related and technological challenges facing our society, the CAP can contribute more to developing intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth. The CAP must also take greater account of the wealth and diversity of agriculture in the EU’s 27 Member States.

The Common Agricultural Policy is due to be reformed by 2013. A formal public consultation on the CAP post-2013 had been undertaken last year when the Commission publishes a policy paper setting out different options for the future CAP. On 12 April 2010 the Commissioner invited all interested EU citizens and organisations - whether or not they work in the area of agriculture - to join the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, its principles and objectives. This on-line debate stayed open till 11 June 2010. The intention was to give as many EU citizens, stakeholders, and think tanks, research institutes and others, as possible the opportunity to have their say early on in the reflection process about the future of the CAP. Their responses will provide input to the policymakers.

As a result of the public debate, on 12 October 2011 the European Commission has published its plans to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013. This blueprint aims to strengthen the competitiveness and the sustainability of agriculture and maintain its presence in all regions, in order to guarantee European citizens healthy and quality food production, to preserve the environment and to help develop rural areas.

The key aims of this reform are:

• to ensure that the competitiveness of all European farming safeguards our food security;

• to lay down the foundations for long-term competitiveness that is both environmentally and economically sustainable;

• to ensure that agriculture flourishes throughout Europe;

• and finally, a spearhead objective: to simplify the CAP.

The legal proposals are accompanied by an impact assessment that evaluates alternative scenarios for the evolution of the policy on the basis of extensive quantitative and qualitative analysis.

For more information you can access the following links on the European Commission website:

Legal proposal for the CAP after 2013

Read Commissioner Ciolos' speech at the European Parliament