Bref | 21/10/2010 

As the most integrated EU and sole policy to be financed mainly by the common budget, the CAP represents 40% of the Community budget. This exceptional status has made the CAP the target of virulent critiques regarding its “cost.” Yet Europeans spend less money for agriculture and rural development than for research or development or even energy. As we approach discussions on the financial perspectives after 2013, this brief draws attention to the risks of an poorly framed debate on the cost of the CAP. It calls, in view of global challenges that will again bring the agricultural issue to the fore, for the debate on comprehensive reform of the CAP which the EU and its agriculture need.

For more information on Notre Europe's Research on European budget, please click here. 

This document is made available under a Creative Commons license.

• The Common Strategic Framework: adding value to rural development?
• Subsidiarity versus Solidarity? The example of the European Food Aid Program for the Most Deprived
• Food program under discussion: the end of a European solidarity towards the most deprived persons? Understanding the ongoing debate
• Article by Nadège Chambon in Public Service Europe about European solidarity and the CAP
• In search of the 'best added value for money': analyzing current ideas and proposals to enhance the performance of CAP and cohesion spending