What is the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)?
The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries and works towards a number of key objectives
Ensure a fair income for farmers
Preserve landscapes and biodiversity
Increase competitiveness
Support generational renewal
Improve the position of farmers in the food chain
Vibrant rural areas
Climate change action
Protect food and health quality
Environmental care
Foster knowledge and innovation
The new CAP supports agriculture and communities in making a much stronger contribution to the goals of the Green Deal:
Higher Green Ambitions
CAP plans will be in line with environmental and climate legislation. Each EU country will be obliged to display a higher ambition on environment and climate action and will be required to update the plan when legislation is modified.
Eco-schemes
At least 25% of the budget for direct payments will be allocated to eco-schemes, providing stronger incentives for climate-and environment-friendly farming approaches.
Contribute to the Green Deal targets
The national CAP strategic plans will contribute to the Green Deal targets (the CAP recommendations set out how this contribution is expected).
Rural development and operational programmes
A proportion of funds will also be allocated to measures to support climate, biodiversity, environment, and animal welfare.
Enhanced conditionality
Beneficiaries of the CAP will have their payments linked to a stronger set of mandatory requirements. Wetlands and peatlands will also be protected.
Climate and biodiversity
40% of the CAP budget will have to be climate-relevant and strongly support the general commitment to dedicate 10% of the EU budget to biodiversity objectives.
What is Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan?
€9.8 billion
Budget Approx.
60%
Direct income support
+
40%
Rural Developments interventions
(+ national co-financing)
National strategy for implementing CAP in Ireland (2023-2027)
New performance-based approach instead of previous compliance approach.
Three main approaches to supporting sustainable development of farming and food sector:
- Supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness
- Strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural areas
- Contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU levels
Learn more about Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan
Frequently asked questions?
What’s different about the new CAP?
- New way of working: Fairer, greener and more performance-based CAP
- Seeks to ensure a sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, and allow greater flexibility for EU countries to adapt measures to local conditions.
- Key tool for achieving the EU Green Deal ambitions
- Ten specific objectives, linked to common EU goals for social, environmental, and economic sustainability in agriculture and rural areas
Why has the name changed?
- The name CAP Network Ireland is more aligned with our partner networks across Europe. It also distinguishes activities to support the new Common Agricultural Policy, (2023-2027) from those that were funded by the previous CAP and supported by NRN (2016 – 2020, extended to 2022).
What’s the difference compared to the NRN?
- The new CAP Network addresses EU strategic priorities such as recovering and improving resilience after the pandemic, achieving the EU Green Deal (just transition to net zero by 2050) and implementing a nature-based model of sustainability based on biodiversity.
- The network also addresses the challenges of our changing world, specifically the cumulative impacts of Brexit, recovering from the COVID pandemic and climate change.
- The Innovation Hub will work to support the development and sharing of innovative ideas and solutions to ensure the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of farming and of rural areas.
- Our articles, newsletters and case studies aim to tell the story of the communities behind the CSP, going beyond the technical aspects of the schemes and giving a voice to those participating.
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