22 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM T he European Union’s (EU) common agricultural policy (CAP) is a common policy for all the countries of the EU. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget. Launched in 1962, the CAP is a partnership between Europe and its farmers. It aims to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, to ensure that EU farmers can make a reasonable living, to help tackle climate change and the sustainable manage- ment of natural resources, to maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU, and to keep the rural economy alive promoting jobs in farming, agri-foods industries and associated sectors. Less than three years after the effective entry into force of the CAP 2014-2020, it is already time for a change. In 2017, the EU approved the "Omnibus Regulations", a sort of mid-term review of the European policy 2014-2020, with few innovations on the agricultural topics, but the most important event is the start of the debate on the CAP after 2020. Agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy of Europe and provides the main source of food, income and employment to their rural populations. However, when we talk about the agri- cultural sector, it is a bit more complicated compared to other sectors. First of all, in most European member states, agricul- ture is characterized by small farms managed by family farmers, where family members provide labour input at different times of the year. Secondly, many farmers and farm workers pursue agri- culture as a part-time activity and have other sources of income. After a public consultation launched in 2017 on the future of the CAP and the communication on the future of food and farming, on 1 June 2018, the European Commission presented legislative proposals on the future of the CAP for the period after 2020 (Fig.1). The communication outlines the path ahead for the CAP, focusing on making it simpler and ensuring the best value-for- money. Tracing the priorities the future CAP must address, the European Commission sets ground for a discussion on a more flex- ible approach to implementing the policy for more effective results. The Commission proposal on the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 provides that a significant part of the EU budget should continue to be dedicated to agriculture, which is a common policy of strategic importance. However, in 2014- 2021, the CAP budget was 37.6% (EU 28); in the new proposal 2021-2027 the budget will be 28.5% (EU-27). After Brexit, there will be a gap of €12 billion, with a result of 5% cuts of the CAP compared to the old program. Thus, in current prices, it is proposed that the CAP should focus on its core activities with €286.2 billion allocated to the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and €78.8 bil- lion for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Is it still common? A CRITICAL LOOK AT EU’S COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY AFTER 2020. BY: DARIO SIGGIA FIG. 1 THE STEPS November 2017 Commission communication on the future of food and farming May 2018 Legislative proposal Multiannual Financial Framework 6 June 2018 Legislative proposal CAP after 2020 23-26 May 2019 European elections November 2019 New European Commission April 2019 Decision new Legislative proposal Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 Possible adoption CAP after 2020 Dario Siggia