CAP 101: What Is It and Why You Should Care?

In the news, on social media, in the political debates and even in casual conversations among friends, you keep hearing about the CAP… but you don’t even know what that acronym means. Don’t worry – let’s break it down together.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is exactly what the name says: 

  • Common → one policy for all EU countries. Same rules, no 27 different farm systems. 
  • Agricultural → it sets the framework for how farming works in the European Union.
  • Policy → rules, budgets, and priorities shaping farming and rural life. 

So yes, the CAP is a big deal — and it’s not just about farmers. This policy impacts the lives of all EU citizens one way or another – from their access to nutritional and safe food, to the environment and the development of rural areas.   

CAP’s Famous Two Pillars  

Think of the CAP like a house resting on two solid pillars:

Pillar I – Direct payments & market measures 

  • Fully EU-funded — no extra national money. 
  • Direct payments: the backbone — income support for farmers, based on land area and meeting EU standards.
  • Eco-schemes: green bonuses — extra cash for farmers who go greener (crop rotation, organic farming, biodiversity-friendly practices). 

Pillar II – Rural development

  • EU money matched with national funds (co-financing).
  • Goes beyond farming: supports infrastructure, training, diversification, young farmers, and social projects in rural areas. 

Can countries add even more co-financing? Yes — but with limits. They must respect EU competition rules, so no unlimited handouts. Instead, they can tweak their CAP Plans (e.g., more eco-schemes, extra help for small farms) or run extra national programmes approved by the Commission. 

Let’s Talk About Money  

Here’s where CAP gets impressive: it accounts for nearly a third of the EU’s total budget. 

  • EU’s total 2021–2027 budget: €1.21 trillion 
  • CAP’s share: €386.6 billion  

How it’s split: 

  • €291.1 billion → direct payments to farmers (Pillar I) 
  • €95.5 billion → rural development & greener measures (Pillar II) 

Zoom in on the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plans: €307 billion total support 

  • €264 billion from the EU budget 
  • €43 billion from Member States (co-financing, mainly for Pillar II) 

Show Me the Money: Greece & Belgium

Greece → €13.4 billion in EU CAP funds for 2023–2027, plus national co-financing. Greece even chose to give extra love to young farmers, going beyond the EU minimum. 

Belgium → CAP is regional here: 

  • Flanders: about €1.3 billion 
  • Wallonia: about €1.5 billion 

Together: just over €2.8 billion in EU funds, plus national co-financing. 

Why Should You Care?  

Because CAP isn’t just about “those farmers over there.” It shapes: 

  • Food security — stable, safe food supplies in Europe
  • Fair incomes — helping farmers survive in a tough market  
  • Climate & environment — rewarding greener farming 
  • Your wallet — keeping food affordable and stable 
  • Rural life — keeping villages alive and giving young people reasons to stay 

So, yes, the CAP matters. And RECAP, a project co-funded by the European Commission, will help you to gain in-depth insights into this vital policy over the coming months. Stay tuned and follow us on social media to receive updates and resources!