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Heading 2: Sustainable growth: natural resources

A list of the programmes funded under heading 2 of the 2014-2020 long-term budget, with reference amounts and legal bases.

Common Agricultural Policy (pillar I)

Total reference amount: €312,735 million (current prices)

Aims

The Common Agricultural Policy aims at ensuring a decent standard of living for farmers and at providing consumers with a stable and safe food supply at affordable prices. The “first pillar” of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) corresponds to support to farmers’ incomes provided in the form of direct payments and market-support measures.

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy

Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products

More information

The common agricultural policy at a glance

European Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Total reference amount: €7,404.84 million (current prices), of which
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund: €6,396.6 million (current prices)

Aims

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund supports the implementation of the CFP with the necessary financial resources. The fund focuses on funding projects which promote a sustainable future for the European fishing industry and coastal communities with particular focus on the rebuilding of fish stocks, reducing the impact of fisheries on the marine environment, and the progressive elimination of wasteful discarding practices.

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy

More information

Oceans and fisheries website

Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

Total reference amount: €3,456.66 million (current prices)

Aims

The LIFE programme aims at improving the implementation of EU environment and climate policy and legislation. The programme contributes to the shift towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon and climate resilient economy, to the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 on the establishment of a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

More information

LIFE website

Rural Development (CAP pillar II)

Total reference amount: €95,577.05 million (current prices)

Aims

The “second pillar” of the Common Agricultural Policy aims at helping improve competitiveness for farming and forestry, protect the environment and the countryside, improve the quality of life and diversification of the rural economy, and support locally based approaches to rural development.

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

More information

European Network for Rural Development website