The development-related impacts of EU agricultural policy

The European Commission launched a process for the modernisation and simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in early 2017 which will lead to a Commission Communication on the future of the CAP post 2020 towards the end of 2017. The impact assessment for this Communication must consider the impact of future changes to the CAP on developing countries. This paper first provides an assessment of the development-related impact of important CAP instruments. It discusses some of the main proposals of stakeholders for the CAP post 2020 and draws conclusions on their implications especially for the poorest developing countries. Finally, the paper identifies key demands which development groups should consider raising in this debate. The paper concludes that the CAP (as distinct from accompanying trade policy) now has limited effects on the least developed countries and that potential changes to the policy post 2020 are unlikely to change this assessment. Campaigning groups have a role to play in helping to prevent any back-sliding in the direction of CAP reform. However, they should assess whether devoting limited resources to attempting to influence the direction of changes in the CAP would give the greatest return in terms of poverty alleviation and meeting sustainable development goals in the poorest developing countries.