The CAP 2014–2020

The CAP for the period 2014–2020 is characterised by the breakdown of direct payments into several measures: basic payment, additional green climate and environment payment (so-called greening), additional payment for young farmers, etc. Some of these measures are mandatory, while for others the decision on their activation is left to MSs. Likewise, many decisions concerning the distribution of funds, their management, and farmers’ requirements to access them are transferred to MSs. As a result, the CAP differs in its application from one MS to another. At the same time, the Single Common Market Organisation (CMO) is launched in 2013 as part of the first pillar dedicated to market measures, incorporating all the remaining specific measures for individual agricultural sectors. The rural development policy is reorganised based on a menu of possible measures for the pursuit of a set of objectives related to the EU’s fundamental goals, as expressed in the ‘Europe 2020’ document. The agricultural policy 2014–2020 is defined following the ‘ordinary legislative procedure’ introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, which came into force in 2009. The latter provides for the final regulations to be approved jointly by the Council and the European Parliament, according to a process marked by periodic informal meetings (the trilogues). For this reason the operational start of the first pillar is delayed until 2015. The rural development policy also starts late, as the final regulations of the CAP and the MFF are approved and promulgated only a few days before their entry into force.