CAP reform

Portuguese presidency calls ‘super trilogue’ to seek CAP breakthrough

Portugal's agriculture minister Maria do Céu Antunes will convene by the end of March a joint negotiation meeting with all the three European parliament's rapporteurs to bring about a breakthrough in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) talks.

Hungary: Greens are ‘gunning’ for EU agricultural subsidies system

Hungary's agriculture ministry has launched a scathing attack on the Greens/EFA political group after the publication of a damning report detailing the misuse of EU farming subsidy money in the country. 

Systemic misuse of EU agri grants in Central-Eastern Europe, report finds

Common agricultural subsidies continue to be systematically misused across countries in Central and Eastern Europe, despite numerous attempts by the European Commission to remediate the issue, according to a new report commissioned by the Greens/EFA political group.

EU’s family farming model at risk of dying out, warns MEP

Family farming as we know it is under threat and this may be the last generation of EU family farmers, according to Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus, who raised concerns over land concentration and called for a larger safety net for small farms. 

Fight over inclusion of labour rights in CAP heats up

The ongoing debate over the inclusion of provisions on workers' rights in the reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has kicked up a notch with the publication of a letter from more than 300 European organisations advocating for social conditionality.

Agrifood Brief: The apple of EU discord

In a recently published Parliament survey, agriculture, food and fisheries have emerged as a major area of disagreement between Brussels and the EU capitals.

MEPs to extend support to wine sector amid COVID, US tariffs uncertainty

European lawmakers have backed the Commission's proposal to extend the length of an aid package for winegrowers by an additional year.

Social conditionality set to be sticking point in CAP negotiations

EU agriculture ministers have voiced concern over the inclusion of social conditionality in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU's farming subsidies programme, while stakeholders warn that this must not be forfeited in favour of clinching a quick deal.

Agrifood Brief: A 5-column clover for luck with CAP

Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet.   This week: we speak with Green MEP Eleonora Evi about the differences...

Parliament defies Council on decoupling crisis reserve from CAP budget

The crisis reserve fund remains an outstanding issue in the otherwise advancing talks on the reform of the EU's Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), as positions of the European Parliament and EU farm ministers on the issue are still far apart.

2021: The year of the CAP

2019 is likely to be the year in which the much awaited reform of the main EU's massive farming subsidies programme, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), will see the light.

Commission lists agroecology, animal welfare as core environmental practices

The European Commission has unveiled the first list of environmentally friendly practices that could receive EU funding in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU's farming subsidy programme.

CAP gets too much flak for effects on developing countries, says expert

Critics of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) for its effect on developing African countries have an exaggerated view of its importance outside Europe, although some specific areas and particular products remain a cause for concern, according to a CAP expert.

EU-Africa partnership needed for transformation of food systems, says experts

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the need for EU-African collaboration is more important than ever in the drive to strengthen and transform food systems, but care must be taken to make it an equitable partnership, experts have stressed.

EU-Africa move in step on Geographical indications revolution

The enormous tradition and diversity in African agricultural products may benefit from the use of the intellectual property tool for food protection that Europeans have been held most dear.

Africa needs a Farm to Fork vision too, IFAD official says

Africa needs a 'Farm to Fork' vision to change its food systems in a more sustainable way and the EU can be at the centre of this transformation, according to a senior official of the UN fund for rural agriculture.

EU and Africa step up co-operation on agri-business amid pandemic

When the European Commission and African Union set up a joint rural Africa taskforce in May 2018, their priorities were to promote African food security, climate change adaption and investment in the continent’s agri-business. Its work towards those aims in African agri-business has been accelerated this year by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commission and MEPs look for a fresh start after CAP tension

The European Parliament and the Commission are trying to restore mutual trust after the recent quarrels about the reform of the EU's massive farming subsidies programme, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

EU-Mercosur agreement could cause international trade uncertainty

The EU's trend of negotiating preferential or free trade agreements with different regions and countries of the world has experienced successes and failures. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro reports.

EU-Mercosur, an agreement  with different agricultural standards

The difference in production standards has been one of many causes for disagreement during the negotiations of the EU-Mercosur agreement. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro reports.

Europe ‘cannot afford’ to bow out of Mercosur agreement, says academic

The crisis of multilateralism, driven by the competition between the US and China, and a lukewarm push from the current leaders of the EU and Mercosur, explains why the agreement between these two blocks is such a challenge, analysts say. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro reports.

Mercosur agreement seduces Spain’s industry, disturbs farmers

The principle of the EU-Mercosur deal has raised mixed feelings in Spain. While the food industry highlights the newly available options for the sector, farmers are showing reluctance towards the deal. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro reports.

Time for small amendments to CAP is over, Greta tells the EU

In a virtual meeting with the Commission executive vice president Frans Timmermans, a group of young climate activists headed by Greta Thunberg reiterated their harsh criticism of the proposed reform of the EU's farming subsidies programme, saying there was no more time for "small steps in the right direction".

Member state criticism, COVID crisis delay ratification of EU-Mercosur deal

The challenging procedure of ratifying the EU-Mercosur deal is being held up due to a combination of the COVID-19 health crisis and considerable criticism from member states. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro takes a look at the current state of play.