The 2008 CAP "Health Check" modernised, simplified and streamlined the CAP and removed restrictions on farmers, thus helping them to respond better to signals from the market and to face new challenges.
On 20 November 2008 the EU agriculture ministers reached a political agreement on the "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Among a range of measures, the agreement abolishes arable set-aside, increases milk quotas gradually leading up to their abolition in 2015, and converts market intervention into a genuine safety net. Ministers also agreed to increase modulation, whereby direct payments to farmers are reduced and the money transferred to the Rural Development Fund.
This allowed a better response to the new challenges and opportunities faced by European agriculture, including climate change, the need for better water management, the protection of biodiversity, and the production of green energy.
Council outcome
Council Regulations Nos (EC) Nos 72/2009, 73/2009 and 74/2009 of 19 January 2009
Guide: Current situation, Commission proposal and Council outcome
Legislative proposals
Working documents - supplementary financial statement
Impact assessment
Annexes
Annex A: Public consultation summary
Annex B: Economic situation of EU agriculture
Situation and prospects for EU agriculture and rural areas
The impact of the developments in agricultural producer prices on consumers (11/2007) - Update (05/2008)
Annex C: Direct Support Scheme
Simplification of the Single Payment Scheme
Individual limits for direct payments
Annex D: Market measures
Cereal Intervention and Set-aside
How to interpret additional internal EU milk demand
Annex E: New challenges
Annex F: Microeconomic (FADN) analyses
Introduction and table of contents
Individual limits for direct payments per beneficiary
Dairy issues
Impact of a price reduction on milk margins
Rice
Impact of the coupled payment suppression on rice margins
Complement rice and irrigated grain maize
Annex G: Relevant evaluation studies
Commission Communication
Communication from the Commission: "Preparing the 'Health Check' of the CAP reform"