As the AGRI Committee prepares to vote on the draft report on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy Regulation, Access to Land Network has submitted its recommendations to Members of the Committee.
The CAP shapes far more than farm subsidies — it determines who can access farmland, who is able to farm, and which farming systems succeed across Europe. In its letter, A2L welcomes several positive developments in the draft report, including the increased CAP budget, the introduction of a Starter Pack for Young Farmers, and the recognition of generational renewal as a policy priority. At the same time, A2L calls for farm incubators to be made explicitly eligible, for the young farmer budget share to rise to 10%, and for stronger data governance to track who really benefits from CAP support.
A2L also flags where the draft report falls short. It calls for the reintroduction of mandatory degressive payments, a lower capping threshold, and a more ambitious, harmonised EU-wide definition of “active farmer” that keeps mere landownership from qualifying for support. On the environment, A2L urges 35% of the CAP budget to be ring-fenced for climate and environmental action, the reinstatement of compliance with the Nitrates and Habitats Directives, and greater recognition of nature-based solutions. Finally, the letter calls for the future CAP to explicitly recognise public-interest land governance mechanisms — including non-profit land stewardship organisations, community land trusts, and public land agencies – that secure long-term, affordable access to farmland for the next generation.