DEBATE over the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013 has begun in earnest. Find out what the main points of the debate are and see how CAP money is spent in the UK.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

How much money will be in the budget and how will the money be spent? Currently close to £50 billion of EU money is poured into European agriculture annually, 70 per cent of which is spent on direct payments.

But with global population soaring, new environmental demands on the agricultural sector and the imminent discussion over the EU’s financial outlook for 2014-2020 – when the budget will come under intense pressure – the time has come to plan a reformed CAP.

What do UK farmers get out of the CAP?

Nearly 200,000 farmers across the UK received payments of £3.3 billion, up from £2.6 billion in 2008.

Click here to see Defra’s comprehensive list of every farm subsidy payment in the UK.

How does the industry want to reform the CAP?

Click on the links below to see how the various industry groups are campaigning for CAP reform.

• NFU: NFU deputy president Gwyn Jones outlines CAP vision  
• CLA and RSPB: Landowners and conservationists join forces in their CAP vision
• COPA-COGECA: EU farm leaders explain the purpose of the CAP

How can you take part in the CAP debate?

The European Commission has launched a website for all EU citizens to take part in the debate over how to shape the CAP.

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post-2013/debate/index.htm.

You can also contact farm unions, such as the NFU and CLA, and your local MP and MEP.

CAP and EU budget timetable (subject to change)

Key links:

Defra CAP reform page: http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/capreform/index.htm

European Commission explains the CAP: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/capexplained/cap_en.pdf

European Commission: Speech by Commissioner Dacian Cioloș: The future of European agricultural policy - Call for a public debate

European Commission: Eurobarometer: What Europeans think of agriculture and the CAP

European Commission: The Commission has a budget review page which keeps tabs on all the latest budget news: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/index_en.htm

European Parliament : European Parliament - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development: Draft report on the Future of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013

CAP on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Agricultural_Policy

Blog on the CAP: http://commonagpolicy.blogspot.com/

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