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The common agricultural policy (CAP)

The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) has two main aims: 1. To help European farmers compete internationally. 2. To promote rural development, especially in poorer areas (where GDP is less than 75% of the EU average).

Agricultural policy has a pivotal role to play in the EU – not just because farmland and forests account for more than 90% of land-use, but also because the CAP can help Europe to meet major challenges, such as: 1. Providing consumers with safe, high-quality food. 2. Protecting the environment. 3. Adjusting to changing international trade rules.

A major reform of the CAP in 2003 made the policy more responsive to environmental concerns and the new requirements of farmers and consumers.

• Legislative instruments
• Preparatory acts
• Other acts

Legislative instruments

• 32009R0073
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005, (EC) No 247/2006, (EC) No 378/2007 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003

  Official Journal L 030 , 31/01/2009 P. 0016 - 0099

• 32008R1344
  

  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1344/2008 of 23 December 2008 publishing, for 2009, the agricultural product nomenclature for export refunds introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 3846/87

  Official Journal L 348 , 24/12/2008 P. 0036 - 0075

• 32008R0078
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 78/2008 of 21 January 2008 on the measures to be undertaken by the Commission in 2008-2013 making use of the remote-sensing applications developed within the framework of the common agricultural policy

  Official Journal L 025 , 30/01/2008 P. 0001 - 0002

• 32007R1499
  

  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1499/2007 of 18 December 2007 publishing, for 2008, the agricultural product nomenclature for export refunds introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 3846/87

  Official Journal L 333 , 19/12/2007 P. 0010 - 0053

• 32007R1234
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)

  Official Journal L 299 , 16/11/2007 P. 0001 - 0149

• 32006R1085
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of 17 July 2006 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)

  Official Journal L 210 , 31/07/2006 P. 0082 - 0093

• 32006R1848
  

  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1848/2006 of 14 December 2006 concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the common agricultural policy and the organisation of an information system in this field and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 595/91

  Official Journal L 355 , 15/12/2006 P. 0056 - 0062

  Official Journal L 322 , 02/12/2008 P. 0298 - 0304

• 32006R1847
  

  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1847/2006 of 13 December 2006 adapting certain horizontal Regulations in the common agricultural policy by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union

  Official Journal L 355 , 15/12/2006 P. 0021 - 0055

  Official Journal L 330 , 09/12/2008 P. 0414 - 0448

• 32006R1184
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 1184/2006 of 24 July 2006 applying certain rules of competition to the production of, and trade in, agricultural products (Codified version)

  Official Journal L 214 , 04/08/2006 P. 0007 - 0009

  Official Journal L 352 , 31/12/2008 P. 0463 - 0465

• 32005R1698
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

  Official Journal L 277 , 21/10/2005 P. 0001 - 0040

• 32005R1290
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy

  Official Journal L 209 , 11/08/2005 P. 0001 - 0025

• 32004D0391
  

  2004/391/EC: Commission Decision of 23 April 2004 on the advisory groups dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy

  Official Journal L 120 , 24/04/2004 P. 0050 - 0060

• 32004D0281
  

  Council Decision of 22 March 2004 adapting the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded, following the reform of the common agricultural policy

  Official Journal L 093 , 30/03/2004 P. 0001 - 0017

• 32000R0814
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 of 17 April 2000 on information measures relating to the common agricultural policy

  Official Journal L 100 , 20/04/2000 P. 0007 - 0009

• 31998R2800
  

  Council Regulation (EC) No 2800/98 of 15 December 1998 on transitional measures to be applied under the common agricultural policy with a view to the introduction of the euro

  Official Journal L 349 , 24/12/1998 P. 0008 - 0009

• 31971Y0527(01)
  

  Council Resolution of 25 May 1971 on the new guidelines for the common agricultural policy

  Official Journal C 052 , 27/05/1971 P. 0001 - 0007

  English special edition: Series II Volume IX P. 0044

Preparatory acts

• 52007IE1704
  

  Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Future outlook for agriculture in areas with special handicaps (upland, island and outlying areas)

  Official Journal C 120 , 16/05/2008 P. 0047 - 0048

• 52008IP0095
  

  Sustainable agriculture and biogas: review of EU legislation

  European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2008 on sustainable agriculture and biogas: a need for review of EU legislation (2007/2107(INI))

  Official Journal C 066 E , 20/03/2009 P. 0029 - 0034

• 52009DC0128
  

  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - A simplified CAP for Europe - A success for all

• 52007IE1457
  

  Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Health check of the CAP and its future after 2013

  Official Journal C 044 , 16/02/2008 P. 0060 - 0068

• 52007IE1456
  

  Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Compensation payments for disadvantaged areas beyond 2010

  Official Journal C 044 , 16/02/2008 P. 0056 - 0059

• 52007DC0722
  

  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Preparing for the "Health Check" of the CAP reform

• 52006XC1212(03)
  

  Commission Notice concerning the trade arrangements for agricultural products applicable from 1 January 2007

  Official Journal C 301 , 12/12/2006 P. 0011 - 0011

• 52005AE1245
  

  Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the Council on risk and crisis management in agriculture (COM(2005) 74 final)

  Official Journal C 028 , 03/02/2006 P. 0018 - 0024

• 52005PC0613
  

  Proposal for a Council Regulation applying certain rules of competition to production of and trade in agricultural products (Codified version)

• 52005DC0509
  

  Communication from the Commission on Simplification and Better Regulation for the Common Agricultural Policy

• 52004AE1646
  

  Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament — accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed cap — sugar sector reform’(COM(2004) 499 final)

  Official Journal C 157 , 28/06/2005 P. 0102 - 0107

• 52005DC0074
  

  Communication from the Commission to the Council on risk and crisis management in agriculture {SEC(2005) 320}

• 52004IE0961
  

  Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The CAP second pillar: outlook for change in development policy for rural areas’ (follow-up to the Salzburg conference)

  Official Journal C 302 , 07/12/2004 P. 0053 - 0059

• 52004DC0499
  

  Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP - sugar sector reform

• 52004XG0207(02)
  

  Council Conclusions of 17 December 2003 on risk management in agriculture

  Official Journal C 034 , 07/02/2004 P. 0002 - 0002

• 52003DC0554
  

  Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP - The tobacco, olive oil, cotton and sugar sectors {SEC(2003) 1022} {SEC(2003) 1023}

• 52002AR0188
  

  Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Mid-Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy"

  Official Journal C 073 , 26/03/2003 P. 0025 - 0029

Other acts

• 62008O0207
  

  Order of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 11 July 2008.

  Criminal proceedings against Edgar Babanov.

  Reference for a preliminary ruling: Panevėžio apygardos teismas - Lithuania.

  Article 104(3), first subparagraph, of the Rules of Procedure - Agriculture - Free movement of goods.

  Case C-207/08.

• 62008J0170
  

  Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 June 2009.

  H. J. Nijemeisland v Minister van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit.

  Reference for a preliminary ruling: College van Beroep voor het bedrijfsleven - Netherlands.

  Common agricultural policy - Beef and veal - Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 - Article 3a - Integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes - Single payment - Determination of reference amount - Reductions and exclusions.

  Case C-170/08.

  European Court reports 2009 Page 00000

• 62008J0034
  

  Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 14 May 2009.

  Azienda Agricola Disarò Antonio and Others v Cooperativa Milka 2000 Soc. coop. arl.

  Reference for a preliminary ruling: Tribunale ordinario di Padova - Italy.

  Agriculture - Common organisation of the markets - Milk quotas - Levy - Validity of Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 - Objectives of the common agricultural policy - Principles of non-discrimination and proportionality - Determination of the national reference quantity - Criteria - Relevance of the criterion of a Member State’s milk production deficit.

  Case C-34/08.

  European Court reports 2009 Page 00000

• 62008C0034
  

  Opinion of Advocate General Trstenjak delivered on 3 March 2009.

  Azienda Agricola Disarò Antonio and Others v Cooperativa Milka 2000 Soc. coop. arl.

  Reference for a preliminary ruling: Tribunale ordinario di Padova - Italy.

  Agriculture - Common organisation of the markets - Milk quotas - Levy - Validity of Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 - Objectives of the common agricultural policy - Principles of non-discrimination and proportionality - Determination of the national reference quantity - Criteria - Relevance of the criterion of a Member State’s milk production deficit.

  Case C-34/08.

  European Court reports 2009 Page 00000

• 62006J0534
  

  Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 5 June 2008.

  Industria Lavorazione Carni Ovine Srl v Regione Lazio.

  Reference for a preliminary ruling: Corte suprema di cassazione - Italy.

  Common agricultural policy - EAGGF - Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 866/90 - Exclusion of investments relating to the processing of products from third countries - Principle of proportionality.

  Case C-534/06.

  European Court reports 2008 Page I-04129

• 92003E2537
  

  WRITTEN QUESTION E-2537/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Net contribution to the common agricultural policy.

  Official Journal 011 E , 15/01/2004 P. 0255 - 0256

• 92003E0843
  

  WRITTEN QUESTION E-0843/03 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Council. Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

  Official Journal 280 E , 21/11/2003 P. 0106 - 0106

• 92002E3775(01)
  

  WRITTEN QUESTION P-3775/02 by António Campos (PSE) to the Commission. Common agricultural policy.

  Official Journal 192 E , 14/08/2003 P. 0138 - 0139