At a glance

The common agricultural policy (CAP) 2023-27 entered into force on 1 January 2023. This marked the beginning of the implementation of the 28 approved CAP Strategic Plans in 27 EU countries (EU members have one Strategic Plan each, except Belgium, which has one for Flanders and one for Wallonia).

In November 2023, the European Commission published an assessment of CAP Strategic Plans delivery on CAP objectives. The report relies on the information contained in the CAP national plans as well as on qualitative appraisals of the potential effects of the choices made by EU countries. This preliminary assessment summarises the combined contributions of the interventions planned by EU countries to address the CAP specific objectives and the six EU-wide Green Deal targets on:

• Fairer income for farmers and keeping rural areas vibrant;
• Environment and climate action;
• Social sustainability and societal expectations such as animal welfare.

The report also acknowledges areas for which the Plans collectively could have showed higher level of ambition or pursued more optimal approaches.

Assessment

Studies

The Commission’s assessment draws on the studies carried out by an external body:

• Mapping and analysis of CAP Strategic Plans. Assessment of joint efforts for 2023-27
• Executive summary of the mapping and analysis of the CAP Strategic Plans

The assessment also builds on the Commission’s overview of the approved CSPs: 

• Approved 28 CAP Strategic Plans (2023-27) (PDF)

Additional information is available in a presentation on the mapping and analysis of CAP Strategic Plans and a factsheet (PDF).

CAP Strategic Plans by country

The links guide you to the overview of the CAP Strategic Plan approved by the European Commission for each EU country, including all the documents relating to the formal approval process.

Role of CAP Strategic Plans

EU countries implement the CAP 2023-27 with a CAP Strategic Plan at national level. Each Plan combines a wide range of targeted interventions addressing the specific needs of that EU country and deliver tangible results in relation to EU-level objectives, while contributing to the ambitions of the European Green Deal.

During the approval process, the Commission assessed whether the EU countries’ CAP Strategic Plans contribute to, and are consistent with, EU legislation and commitments in relation to climate and the environment, including those laid out in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies.

The Commission supported EU countries throughout the preparation of their CAP Strategic Plan so that:

• EU countries take full advantage of the CAP 2023-27 and its instruments to support their farmers in the transition towards increased sustainability in our food systems.

• Each CAP Strategic Plan includes an intervention strategy explaining how each EU country will use CAP instruments to achieve the CAP objectives, in keeping with the Green Deal ambitions.

Related information

Analysis of policy objectives

Legal basis

The approval process was based on the criteria laid down in Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by EU countries under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans).