Learning from the Past: Evaluations and lessons for the new CAP

This webinar explored how lessons from past and forthcoming policy evaluations can enhance the effectiveness, coherence, and impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

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The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains the cornerstone of the EU’s strategy for sustainable agriculture and rural development. Under the new programming framework (2023–2027), Member States are implementing their CAP Strategic Plans through a performance-based model that aligns national actions with the EU’s economic, social, and environmental objectives. The updated CAP performance evaluation framework places greater emphasis on quantitative, impact-oriented assessments. Member States will now carry out interim evaluations within three years of implementation and final evaluations within two years after the programming period. Although ex-ante evaluations have been discontinued, countries are still required to demonstrate how their interventions address identified needs.

This event brings together experts to discuss the practical, analytical, and policy dimensions of evaluating the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It will offer a platform to explore how lessons from past policy cycles can inform the implementation of the new CAP for 2023–2027, particularly regarding Member States’ performance in delivering their CAP Strategic Plans. The webinar will address progress toward economic, social, and environmental objectives, as well as early evidence emerging from annual performance reports. Participants will also reflect on the implications of past performance reviews for enhancing policy coherence, delivery, and overall effectiveness. The event will open with a keynote address from the European Commission’s DG AGRI, Unit on Policy Performance, followed by a debate among experts from academia, research institutions, business associations, and national regulators. It will be an online event featuring presentations and an interactive Q&A session. The webinar is aimed at scholars, professionals, and policymakers working in the fields of agriculture, rural development, sustainability, and EU policy evaluation, with a strong interest in evidence-based policymaking and the future of the CAP.

Programme

• Moderator: Rose O’Donovan (AGRA FACTS)
• Intro Speech: Fabio Santeramo (EUI)

Speakers:

• Sophie Helaine (DG AGRI)
• Giampiero Genovese (JRC)
• Sophie Thoyer (INRAE)
• Bérénice Dupeux (Ecorys)
• Blanca Casares Guillén (AEIDL)

Q&A session:

• Emil Erjavec (University of Ljubljana)
• Aneta Suchon (University of Adam Mickiewicz)