common agricultural policy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical, Political, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “common agricultural policy” mean?
The European Union's system of agricultural subsidies and price support programs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The European Union's system of agricultural subsidies and price support programs.
A policy framework, often referred to as CAP, designed to regulate, subsidize, and provide financial support for the agricultural sector within the European Union, aimed at ensuring food security, stable incomes for farmers, and rural development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is a core term in political and economic discourse due to the UK's historical EU membership. In American English, it is a technical/foreign policy term used when discussing the EU.
Connotations
In the UK, historically carried connotations of bureaucratic waste, high food costs, and political controversy (e.g., 'butter mountains', 'wine lakes'). In the US, primarily a descriptive term for a foreign trade and subsidy regime.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in UK English and other EU member state English-language media. Rare in general American discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “common agricultural policy” in a Sentence
[The/ EU's] Common Agricultural Policy + [verb: funds, subsidises, regulates, supports][Subject: Farmers, Member states] + [verb: receive, benefit from, are affected by] + the Common Agricultural PolicyReforms to/of the Common Agricultural PolicyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “common agricultural policy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government is committed to **CAP**ping farm subsidies.
- The EU **Common-Agricultural-Policied** its way into a surplus crisis.
American English
- Analysts debated how to effectively **reform** the CAP system.
- The trade report focused on how the EU **subsidises** its agriculture.
adverb
British English
- The market was managed **Common-Agricultural-Policy-wise**.
- Funding was distributed **CAP-ly**, based on historical entitlements.
American English
- The sector functioned, for all intents and purposes, **as per the CAP**.
- They argued **pro-CAP** for food security reasons.
adjective
British English
- The **CAP-related** payments were a major budget item.
- It was a classic **Common-Agricultural-Policy** dilemma.
American English
- The **CAP-style** subsidy program was discussed as a model.
- They examined the **EU-agricultural-policy** framework.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Analysis of CAP subsidies and their impact on commodity prices and trade.
Academic
A case study in political economy, European integration, and the distributive effects of supranational policy.
Everyday
Rarely used. Might appear in news headlines about EU spending or farmer protests.
Technical
Detailed discussion of Pillar I (direct payments, market measures) and Pillar II (rural development) funding mechanisms.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “common agricultural policy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “common agricultural policy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “common agricultural policy”
- Incorrect: 'common agriculture policy' (missing '-al').
- Incorrect: 'Common Agricultural Politics'.
- Incorrect: Using lowercase ('common agricultural policy') when referring specifically to the EU policy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its primary goals are to ensure a stable food supply for EU citizens, provide a fair standard of living for farmers, and support rural development.
No, the distribution of CAP funds is historically skewed towards countries with larger agricultural sectors, like France, Spain, and Germany, though reforms have aimed to address imbalances.
It is funded through the EU's general budget, which is financed by contributions from member states, customs duties, and a percentage of value-added tax (VAT).
It was a term used in the 1970s and 1980s to describe huge surplus stocks of butter (and other produce like 'wine lakes') bought and stored by the EU under the CAP's price support mechanisms, symbolising waste and overproduction.
The European Union's system of agricultural subsidies and price support programs.
Common agricultural policy is usually formal, technical, political, journalistic in register.
Common agricultural policy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒm.ən ˌæɡ.rɪˈkʌl.tʃər.əl ˈpɒl.ə.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑː.mən ˌæɡ.rɪˈkʌl.tʃɚ.əl ˈpɑː.lə.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “butter mountain”
- “wine lake (both refer to CAP-induced surpluses)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CAP: Crops And Payments. The Common Agricultural Policy commonly involves payments for crops.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUBSIDY UMBRELLA (providing cover/protection for farmers), A BUDGET PIE (with slices allocated to different sectors/countries), A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
Practice
Quiz
What does the acronym CAP stand for in an EU context?