On 13 September 2022 the European Commission approved the Austrian Strategic Plan which will implement the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Austria in the coming years.
Being an important tool for ensuring viable farm incomes, the system of direct payments in the CAP will be continued from 2023. This means that the first pillar of the CAP will continue to make a substantial contribution to maintaining area-wide and small-structured agricultural management.
Environmentally friendly management through the promotion of an agricultural system that is environmentally sound, extensive and protective of natural habitats.
The Common Agricultural Policy is one of the oldest and most significant policy areas of the European Union (EU). After the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the communitised agricultural policy came into force in 1962 and has since then stood for long-term food security in the EU.
Since the beginning of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 1962, the institutions of the EU continuously developed its direction and concepts and, through several reforms, continuously adjusted the CAP to new challenges. Currently, trilogue negotiations on the reform of the CAP post-2020 are underway. The aim is to reach an agreement between the Council and the European Parliament.
Organic farming is a key component of Austria’s agricultural policy and of the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme ÖPUL 2023.
The new CAP period will also bring some changes to direct payments. From 2023, the funds for direct payments will be distributed across a total of nine interventions. In addition to even greater support for small farms, the 1st pillar will also make a significant contribution to protecting the environment and climate.
The so-called Enhanced Conditionality is the cornerstone of the environmental and climate architecture of the Common Agricultural Policy. It sets out certain basic requirements for the receipt of area- and animal-related payments under the 1st and 2nd pillars and provides the starting point for voluntary interventions in the areas of environment and climate.
Austrian and European agricultural policy aims to achieve multifunctional, area-wide and sustainable agriculture. This requires viable agricultural incomes. Direct payments provide an indispensable safety net for this purpose.
The increased need for action in the fields of environmental and climate protection also places an obligation on the Common Agricultural Policy. This is why the call for increased environmental and climate ambition resulted in the biggest innovation in the first pillar: The introduction of the new eco-schemes.
As part of the direct payments, the basic payment for alpine pastures and the coupled alpine pasturing premium make an important contribution to maintaining alpine farming in Austria.
Young farmers are the future of Austrian agriculture. As part of the first pillar, young people receive targeted additional support in the first 5 years to help them during the set-up period.
IACS is an EU-wide, gradually introduced system for the implementation and administration of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU Member States.
On 1 January 2023 the new Special Directive on support to the apiculture sector 2023-2027 (“Sonderrichtlinie Imkereiförderung 2023-2027”) entered into force. It serves the implementation of sectoral apiculture measures under the CAP Strategic Plan Austria 2023-2027.
The provisions concerning the sectoral measures in the field of wine are set out in the Ordinance establishing rules for the application of the CAP Strategic Plan (“GAP-Strategieplan-Anwendungsverordnung”) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management.
The provisions for the sectoral measures in the field of fruit and vegetables can be found in the so-called CAP Strategic Plan Application Ordinance (“GAP-Strategieplan-Anwendungsverordnung”) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BML) from 2023.
With the CAP Strategic Plan approved by the European Commission, Austria commits itself to its implementation. In addition, the following legal framework has been established for the granting of support to farmers and other beneficiaries in accordance with the CAP Strategic Plan.
