The EU’s Un-Common Agricultural Policy: measuring levels of agricultural support

The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides support to the agricultural sector that varies widely between its 27 member states. The OECD calculates the extent of this support at the EU level but members have blocked the organization calculating support levels for individual EU members. This roundtable discussed the first estimates of support levels by EU individual countries produced by Ian Mitchell from the Center for Global Development. It looked at both direct subsidies under the CAP and those that inflate market prices. The discussion also considered the implications for EU finance, for the potential role of EU subsidy reform and for the UK’s options after Brexit. To read more of Mitchell’s work on the size and the impact of UK agriculture subsidies follow the link.