Navigating the Challenges of CAP Strategic Planning in the EU

This op-ed article discusses key challenges encountered by EU Member States in the design and implementation of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans. It draws on the Tools4CAP project findings to highlight critical issues such as complex multi-level governance structures, capacity gaps among public authorities, and obstacles to evidence-based policymaking. The article outlines recommendations from Tools4CAP on inclusive decision-making, capacity building, participatory tools, and improved data infrastructure to support future CAP strategic planning and monitoring. This article builds on two Tools4CAP deliverables:– D3.1 Report on key challenges for decision making across EU Member States– D3.2 Report on co-designed improved or new decision-making tools Original publication hosted by ARC2020.eu. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101086311. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.