EU seeks to protect mountain livestock and pastoralism in new CAP

The European Commission has indicated that the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must better target subsidies as the budget shrinks, prompting a debate on which farms and agricultural sectors should be prioritized. One webinar highlighted differing viewpoints on whether aid should focus on particular types of agriculture or on the most needy farmers.

At the same time, EU officials have called for specific measures to safeguard mountain livestock and pastoralism, arguing that these traditional practices provide essential environmental benefits such as fire prevention, biodiversity conservation, and support for rural economies. The call was reinforced at the XIV European Mountains Convention in Sallanches, France, where more than 300 experts from about 20 countries urged the upcoming CAP to include dedicated support for extensive mountain farming and pastoralism.

Both discussions stress that protecting these sectors is crucial for the ecological balance of difficult terrain and for maintaining rural livelihoods across the Union.