Following up the future CAP 2028-2034 updates

The future CAP is moving toward simplification, flexibility and stronger national responsibility. Decisions taken in the coming years will define not only farm support, but the EU’s wider approach to land use and rural development well into the 2030s.

For forestry and state‑owned forests this is relevant, because it increasingly shapes EU land‑use priorities, climate policy and governance frameworks.

Earlier on January 2025, EUSTAFOR sent CAP implementation and recommendations for preparations on the post-2027 CAP based on EUSTAFOR’s and CPEF’s survey for the EU. Now, EUSTAFOR is keeping eye on the process of future CAP forming from the viewpoint of state forests, keeping our members aware of the ongoing process and possible actions needed.

Forestry will continue to be supported mainly through investments, environmental and climate actions, risk management and knowledge measures. These core elements remain broadly similar to the current CAP. However, the future framework integrates forestry more horizontally into general rural development tools.

Notably, “forest holders” are explicitly recognised alongside farmers in the proposed CAP legal text, strengthening the visibility of forestry in investment support, monitoring and data collection. At the same time, increased flexibility and simplification place more responsibility on national prioritisation, potentially increasing competition between agriculture and forestry for funding.

For EUSTAFOR members, the key message is clear: engagement in national CAP preparations will be decisive to ensure that forestry’s multifunctional role remains visible and adequately supported in the next CAP.

 

The future CAP (2028–2034): what is happening now?

The current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) applies until the end of 2027, but work on the next CAP period (2028–2034) is already well underway. Since 2024, the debate has moved from general reflections toward concrete legislative and budgetary proposals, making this a critical phase for shaping the future of EU agriculture, forestry and rural areas.

Commission proposal published in July 2025

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission published its proposal for the CAP for the period 2028–2034, alongside the proposal for the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The proposal signals a significant evolution of the policy architecture.

Full document

Where the process stands now (2026)

In 2026, discussions have entered a decisive phase: The Council is negotiating Member States’ positions as part of the broader MFF talks, the European Parliament is finalising its negotiation mandate, and the Commission is defending its proposal while remaining open to institutional compromise.

Why this matters beyond agriculture

Although the CAP primarily targets farmers, it plays a critical role for land use, forestry, climate action, biodiversity and rural economies. The post‑2027 reform will determine how much flexibility Member States have to support forestry and rural landscapes, how climate and biodiversity objectives are integrated into income support, and whether the CAP remains a strong, distinct EU policy or becomes part of a broader funding framework.

What does this mean for forestry?

Forestry is not a core CAP target, but the policy increasingly influences forests indirectly through climate and carbon policy, biodiversity and restoration objectives, and land‑use competition between agriculture, forestry and other uses.

Under the current CAP, several Member States decided not to include forestry‑specific interventions, confirming a structural shift: forestry is often addressed outside CAP, through national funding or other EU instruments. This trend is likely to continue – or even strengthen – after 2027.

Negotiations between the European Commission, Council and European Parliament are ongoing in 2026 and will intensify as discussions on the EU budget progress. The outcome will determine whether the next CAP supports a balanced EU land‑use model – one that fully recognises the strategic role of forests alongside agriculture.

 

See all the CAP related and legislative process documents HERE