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The policy, worth around one third of the EU budget, is the bloc’s main instrument to support farmers, rural areas and food production.ÌýThe nextÌýprogrammingÌýperiodÌýwill bring a new governance system andÌýwillÌýdetermineÌýwhether weÌýcanÌýachieve the environmental goalsÌýinÌýthe countryside. The Member States’ national plans under the policy – known as the CAP Strategic Plans -Ìýare alreadyÌýunder preparation.

'The lack of binding targets means that the responsibility of real change lies with the Member States.ÌýSuccess in protecting our environment will depend on the design and implementation of the individual CAP Strategic Plans. We hope that national governments will rise to the challenge and ensure that only sustainable agriculture practices will be supported in future in the EU,'Ìýsaid Alberto Arroyo Schnell, Head of Policy and Programme at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Europe.

The nextÌýCAPÌýwill be implemented inÌýtheÌýcontext ofÌýgreaterÌýneeds and ambitions for environmental protection.ÌýThe European Green Deal, and in particular the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies,ÌýsetÌýpioneeringÌýsustainabilityÌýobjectivesÌýfor the coming decades.Ìý°Õ³ó±ðÌýintensificationÌýof agricultureÌýisÌýtheÌýleadingÌýdriver of biodiversity lossÌýin EuropeÌýandÌýcausesÌýdetrimentalÌýgreenhouse emissions.ÌýIt is ofÌýutmostÌýimportance that the objectives ofÌýtheseÌýpolicies,Ìýare well reflectedÌýin theÌýimplementation of theÌýCAP.ÌýAlthough the CAP setsÌýkeyÌýobjectivesÌýonÌýagriculture and climateÌýchangeÌýmitigation, efficient soil managementÌýandÌýbiodiversity andÌýfarmedÌýlandscapes,Ìýsome concerns remain.

°Õ³ó±ðÌýplans should setÌýconcreteÌýtargets andÌýactionsÌýthatÌýwill align the CAP with the European Green DealÌýandÌýensure that the budget allocation fully supportsÌýitsÌýobjectivesÌýon biodiversity and climate. Both agricultural and environmental needs should be taken into consideration,ÌýaimingÌýfor long-term impactÌýandÌýensuring, at the very least,ÌýthatÌýno significant harm is causedÌýas a result of nationalÌýactions.ÌýEco-schemes, one of the keyÌýtools to increase farmers’ environmental commitment,ÌýshouldÌýfacilitateÌýreal positive impactsÌýforÌýthe environmentÌýrather thanÌýsupportÌýminimumÌýefforts.

However, preliminary results of anÌýÌý[1]ÌýbyÌýenvironmental NGOsÌýindicate that theÌýambitions of the available draft CAP Strategic Plans are not high enough.ÌýThe results indicate thatÌýmostÌýplansÌýlack measures to reach the targets on landscape features and the protection of grasslandsÌýandÌýpeatlands, among otherÌýflaws.Ìý°Õ³ó±ðÌýresultsÌýsuggest that Member States need toÌýstepÌýup theirÌýlevel of ambition in theirÌýplansÌýand also the Commission in the approval process.

Time is running out to reach Europe’s goals for 2030Ìýto halt biodiversity loss and fight climate change.ÌýFurther pressure has been addedÌýbecause of aÌýtwo-yearÌýdelay ofÌýtheÌýCAP programming periodÌýto 2023.Ìý°Õ³ó±ðÌýdesign and implementationÌýofÌýtheseÌýCAP Strategic PlansÌýwillÌýbe crucial forÌýthe future of Europe’sÌýnatureÌýandÌýcountryside,ÌýandÌýforÌýthe well-being ofÌýtheÌýnextÌýgenerations.

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For further information, contact Edel Shanahan, Policy and Communications Officer, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Europe

[1] Birdlife International and European Environmental Bureau (2021),ÌýCAP Strategic Plans: New assessment shows Member States fall short of saving nature