Special Eurobarometer 368: The Common Agricultural Policy

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been a cornerstone of EU policy relating to farming and the rural areas. It aimed to provide a harmonised framework to maintain adequate supplies, increase productivity and ensure that both consumers and producers receive a fair deal in the market .The CAP as gradually moved from a production based structure of subsidies to a market oriented system, integrating standards for food safety, environment and biodiversity, just to mention a few. The Eurobarometer survey addressed a number of elements in the context of the forthcoming CAP reform package.
The Eurobarometer survey addressed a limited number of elements in the context of the forthcoming CAP reform package:
1. The level of direct payments to EU farmers and specifically the idea of setting an upper limit to them;
2. The link between farming practices and protection of the environment can be further reflected in the structure of direct payments;
3. The simplification of CAP rules for small farms so as to receive extra help in accessing direct payments, to enhance competitiveness and cut red tape;
4. Ensuring availability of local and directly marketed foodstuffs and of agricultural products from mountain areas;
5. Transparency concerning the beneficiaries of CAP payments

The results by volumes are distributed as follows:

• Volume A: Countries
• Volume AA: Groups of countries
• Volume A' (AP): Trends
• Volume AA' (AAP): Trends of groups of countries
• Volume B: EU/socio-demographics
• Volume B' (BP) : Trends of EU/ socio-demographics
• Volume C: Country/socio-demographics

Researchers may also contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: https://www.gesis.org/eurobarometer