Reconstructing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Agriculture is an intersection of many political issues. On one hand, it is a deeply cultural issue connected to old traditions, the landscapes of old tales and the food of our grandmothers. On another, it is the ecosystem of economic activity that fuel rural areas, provide nutrition to growing populations and ensure trade worth millions of euros every year. Finally, the practice and policy of agriculture make us question the rights we have in relation to nature, as guardians or equals, in producing or preserving.

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  • Member: ELF Secretariat, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Europe (FNF Europe),
  • Language: English,

Edited by Alva Finn, Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum and Dr. Antonios Nestoras

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has long been the solid framework of the European agricultural sector, promoting quality and safe food, rural development, and market stability. However, the current financing and delivery model, which allocates subsidies based on land area rather than efficiency or innovation, is increasingly misaligned with the EU’s broader economic, environmental, and technological ambitions. This approach disproportionately benefits large landowners, fails to sufficiently incentivise innovation, and does not effectively support the know-how-driven transition towards a more sustainable and digitalised agricultural sector and the necessary generational renewal. The global agricultural landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by climate change, shifting geopolitical dynamics, technological advancements, and evolving consumer demands. These changes require a CAP that is adaptable, resilient, and forward-looking, capable of enhancing both European food security and global agricultural competitiveness.

  • Member: ELF Secretariat, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Europe (FNF Europe),
  • Language: English,
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