The European Commission has launched its outline proposals for a significant reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.  Entitled ‘The CAP towards 2020: meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future’, the Communication represents a potentially bold move to reorient the CAP into a policy that meets the needs of EU society and the challenges – economic, social and environmental – of the next decade. However, the paper is stronger on ideas than specifics. The real substance will be revealed only when the Commission sets out concrete legislative proposals which will be worked up over the coming 6 months. The crucial political negotiations will then ensue.

To read IEEP’s reflections on the CAP proposals please see the related articles at:
www.cap2020.ieep.eu