Indicator Fact Sheet

CAP expenditures

Indicator Fact Sheet

Prod-ID: IND-208-en

Also known as:

This page was archived on 08 May 2015 with reason: Other (No set and old)

Assessment made on 01 Jan 2001

Generic metadata

Classification

Topics:

DPSIR: Driving force

Identification

Indicator codes

Contents

Policy issue: In which direction are subsidies stimulating the sector?

Figures

Expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy

Key assessment

At Euro 40 billion, the Common Agricultural Policy accounts for 0.5% of the EU's total GDP. Its original purpose was to increase agricultural productivity and ensure "security of supply" - i.e., ensuring Europe could feed its people.

Through supporting prices in the market and subsidising the prices of inputs (fertilisers, pesticides, etc), the CAP encouraged productivity and the industrialisation of European agriculture, and led to the infamous "butter mountains" and "wine lakes".

The 1990s saw the CAP change tack, shifting away from market support towards direct income support. The mountains and lakes of unwanted food have gone, while 10% of CAP support is now tied to tutal development including the reduction of environmental impact (see environmental protection measures).