EU CAP Network 

Thematic Group on Just Transition in the Agri-Food System: the role of the CAP

Dear colleague,  

We kindly remind you that you are invited to express your interest in being a member of the new EU CAP Network Thematic Group (TG) on Just Transition in the Agri-Food System: the role of the CAP, by 19 February 2026.  

 
This TG is an opportunity for you to be part of a committed group of experts and relevant stakeholders that will explore the CAP’s role in promoting a fair and inclusive transition to a more sustainable and competitive agri-food system. 

For this, it will look into how fairness and sustainability can be embedded into the implementation of the CAP and related instruments, both in the current period and in the future. It will address the need for coherent approaches that align climate and environmental objectives with social and economic realities, ensuring that no one is left behind. The TG will discuss how CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) can be used to address climate and environmental needs without increasing social or economic inequalities and to support farmers and rural communities in building resilience and competitiveness. 

To achieve this, the TG builds on findings from previous Thematic Groups and will have the following objectives: 

• Explore how the range of CAP interventions can be used to encourage systemic transformation of the agri-food system along different pathways to ensure a Just Transition. 
• Discuss and identify opportunities for upscaling integrated and coherent approaches for a Just Transition through improved CAP scheme design and implementation and how these best work in synergy with other instruments outside the CAP. 
• Identify and share best practice examples and case studies of approaches enabling a fair and inclusive transition that can be shared and potentially replicated by Member States.  

The TG will consist of a small group (around 40) of dedicated cross-section informed and engaged stakeholders including policymakers and administrators at regional and national levels (including Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies), farmers and farming organisations, LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs), 

Operational Groups (EIP), advisers, researchers, National CAP Networks (NNs) and other relevant rural and environmental stakeholders.  

Participants will commit to engaging in two meetings and related activities, ensuring diverse perspectives and active contributions to achieving the TG's objectives.  

• The first meeting will take place online on 13 March 2026 (morning).  
• The second meeting will take place in person in Brussels on 10 June 2026 (full day). 

There is no charge for attendance at these meetings. However, for the in-person meeting, travel and accommodation costs may be covered for farmers, farming organisations, LAGs,  Operational Groups (EIP), European and national civil society organisations (including NGOs), and researchers/universities. All other TG members will need to pay for their own travel and accommodation costs.  

More details are available on the TG page on the EU CAP Network website.  

Participants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:  

Necessary   

• Experience/knowledge and motivation to explore themes related to the CAP’s role in supporting a just transition in the agri-food system. 
• Representing either policymakers and administrators at regional and national level (including Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies), beneficiaries, such as farmers or farming organisations, LAGs, Operational Groups (EIP), advisers, researchers, NNs and other relevant rural and environmental stakeholders.  
• Capacity and willingness to engage, network and exchange effectively at national, regional and local levels.  
• Firm commitment to participate in two meetings of the TG (13 March and 10 June 2026), and the activities in-between. 
• Ability to communicate clearly in English without interpretation.  

Desirable  

• Familiarity with or willingness to explore how to address climate and environmental needs without increasing social or economic inequalities and supporting farmers and rural communities in building resilience and competitiveness. 
• Commitment to share design and implementation models and best practices with other members during the TG activities.  
• Commitment to share TG outputs with other colleagues or networks outside of the TG.  

Please note that when selecting the TG members from the expressions of interest, the EU CAP Network will, to the extent possible, also consider the need to ensure a balance of participants from EU Member States, sectors and topics, gender and age. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation of participation as soon as possible and by 23 February 2026 at the latest. TG membership is granted on an individual basis taking into account the replies received and not per organisation. 

Since places are limited and in the interest of fairness, successful applicants are asked to commit to participating in the TG activities. In case of unforeseen circumstances, TG members must inform the organisers as soon as possible if they are unavailable to attend a TG meeting. Non-attendance without prior notice may result in exclusion from future TGs and other EU CAP Network events. 

The meetings will be held in English with no interpretation. 

Please feel free to forward this call for expression of interest to colleagues working on the topic and your network.  

If you have any question, please contact us at thematicgroup5@eucapnetwork.eu. 

To follow the work of this Thematic Group, please visit the webpage regularly, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, and follow us on social media (#JustTransition and #AgriFoodSystem).

Thank you for your interest. 

Best wishes,  

EU CAP Network team