General objectives
In accordance with the objectives of the CAP set out in Article 39 TFEU, with the objective to maintain the functioning of the internal market and a level playing field between farmers in the Union and with the principle of subsidiarity, support from the EAGF and the EAFRD shall aim to further improve the sustainable development of farming, food and rural areas and shall contribute to achieving the following general objectives in the economic, environmental and social spheres, which will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
(a)
to foster a smart, competitive, resilient and diversified agricultural sector ensuring long-term food security;
(b)
to support and strengthen environmental protection, including biodiversity, and climate action and to contribute to achieving the environmental and climate-related objectives of the Union, including its commitments under the Paris Agreement;
(c)
to strengthen the socio-economic fabric of rural areas.
Specific objectives
1. The achievement of the general objectives shall be pursued through the following specific objectives:
(a)
to support viable farm income and resilience of the agricultural sector across the Union in order to enhance long-term food security and agricultural diversity as well as to ensure the economic sustainability of agricultural production in the Union;
(b)
to enhance market orientation and increase farm competitiveness both in the short and long term, including greater focus on research, technology and digitalisation;
(c)
to improve the farmers’ position in the value chain;
(d)
to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration, as well as to promote sustainable energy;
(e)
to foster sustainable development and efficient management of natural resources such as water, soil and air, including by reducing chemical dependency;
(f)
to contribute to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, enhance ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes;
(g)
to attract and sustain young farmers and new farmers and facilitate sustainable business development in rural areas;
(h)
to promote employment, growth, gender equality, including the participation of women in farming, social inclusion and local development in rural areas, including the circular bio-economy and sustainable forestry;
(i)
to improve the response of Union agriculture to societal demands on food and health, including high-quality, safe and nutritious food produced in a sustainable way, to reduce food waste, as well as to improve animal welfare and to combat antimicrobial resistance.
2. The objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall be complemented and interconnected with the cross-cutting objective of modernising agriculture and rural areas by fostering and sharing of knowledge, innovation and digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas and by encouraging their uptake by farmers, through improved access to research, innovation, knowledge exchange and training.
3. When pursuing the specific objectives set out in paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States, with the support of the Commission, shall take appropriate measures to reduce the administrative burden and ensure simplification in the implementation of the CAP.
Indicators
1. Achievement of the objectives referred to in Articles 5 and Article 6(1) and (2) shall be assessed on the basis of common indicators related to output, result, impact and context as set out in Annex I. Those common indicators shall include:
(a)
output indicators relating to the realised output of the interventions supported;
(b)
result indicators relating to the specific objectives concerned referred to in Article 6(1) and (2), and which are used for the establishment of quantified milestones and targets in relation to those specific objectives in the CAP Strategic Plans and for assessing progress towards those targets; result indicators relating to environmental and climate-related objectives may cover interventions which contribute to the fulfilment of the commitments emanating from the Union legislative acts listed in Annex XIII;
(c)
impact indicators related to the objectives set out in Article 5 and Article 6(1) and (2) and used in the context of the CAP Strategic Plans and of the CAP;
(d)
context indicators referred to in Article 115(2) and listed in Annex I.
2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 152 amending Annex I to adapt the common output, result, impact and context indicators. Those delegated acts shall be strictly limited to addressing technical problems experienced by Member States regarding the application of those indicators.
