Content provided by EuroCommerce – The European Commission has launched a wide-ranging public consultation on the future of the EU’s agriculture policy. It is examining ways of modernising and simplifying the Common Agriculture Policy.
Greater focus on rural development
The CAP implements a system of agricultural subsidies and other EU programmes, with a greater focus on rural development among its aims. The CAP evaluation process launched by the European Commission includes a public consultation (open until 2 May), and an impact assessment, looking at the likely of changes in the way agriculture is supported in Europe.
Based on the results of this initial work, the European Commission will present a communication before end-2017 outlining conclusions on the performance of the present agriculture policy, and future options. In the light of current discussion of a European framework and possible regulation of retail and agriculture and trading practices in the supply chain, EuroCommerce will be contributing to the debate to press for a CAP which provides competitive, quality products which meet consumer demands at an affordable price.