European Parliament debates new CAP subsidy criteria for 2028–2034

The European Parliament is working on preliminary compromises regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the 2028–2034 period. A central focus of these negotiations is the definition of an ‘active farmer’ to ensure that subsidies are directed toward individuals who genuinely manage agricultural holdings and participate in food production.

Under the proposed rules, member states would implement objective and non-discriminatory criteria to distinguish active producers from entities for whom agriculture is only a marginal activity. One potential mechanism is a ‘negative list’ that could include entities lacking real responsibility for a farm or those whose primary business is not agricultural in nature. These measures aim to ensure that financial support primarily benefits those contributing to food security.