There is a clear gap between the environmental and climate targets of the European Union and the national agricultural plans of the EU countries. Almost all EU countries make use of possibilities for exceptions to the Green Deal targets. According to a study by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), this is one of the reasons why the CAP plans have not shown substantial growth in green ambition.
With the payment of €378.5 billion, the CAP for 2021-2027 should provide fair income support for farmers and food security and livelihoods in rural areas. It should also protect the environment from damage and climate change, which can also have a direct impact on agricultural production, for example in the form of extreme weather.
“The green design of the Common Agricultural Policy has improved. However, compared to the past, we have not seen any significant differences in Member States’ agricultural plans,” said Nikolaos Milionis, the ECA member responsible for the audit. “We conclude that Member States’ climate and environmental ambitions are clearly lagging behind those of the EU. We also believe that important elements for assessing green performance are missing.”
The new CAP introduced more conditions to receive EU funding. It also gave EU countries more flexibility in applying certain rules and added eco-schemes to the policy. These schemes reward practices that are beneficial for the climate, environment and animal welfare.
The auditors note that the CAP plans are not much greener than in the previous period. Moreover, the green impact of the plans could decline further, as some conditions have been relaxed following the farmers’ protests of May 2024. For example, farmers no longer have to rotate their crops to improve soil quality; this was previously mandatory.
The Court says the CAP plans are not well aligned with the Green Deal. EU countries are not required to include estimated contributions to the Green Deal targets in their national strategic agricultural plans. The only measurable target, the auditors say, is an increase in organic farmland.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a key policy area of the European Union, accounting for 31 percent of the EU budget for 2021-2027. It builds on plans adopted by each Member State. The CAP consists of two funds: the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).