The public consultation on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was conducted through an online questionnaire launched by the European Commission from 2 February to 2 May 2017, and received more than 320,000 responses from all 28 EU countries. A first analysis of the results of this consultation was carried out in May, confirming the existence of strong public interest in the need to modernize and simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The "CAP: Have Your Say" Conference was opened by the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan , who highlighted the significant room for improvement in the Common Agricultural Policy. During his speech, he emphasized that the Common Agricultural Policy is a comprehensive policy that reaches each and every citizen of the European Union and that its objectives include simplifying the policy in order to simplify the lives of farmers.

This conference marks the final milestone in the journey toward the future of the CAP, opening a debate on the changes and improvements that can be made to European agricultural policy. The conference was structured in four parts. The first consisted of an "Open Session" with speakers from the European Union and its member countries. This was followed by two debates: the first dedicated to the "Economic and Environmental Dimensions of the CAP" and the second to "Social Dimensions: Food, Rural Areas, Growth, and Employment." The conference concluded with a concluding session.

Both the results of the consultation and the on-the-ground analysis will be compiled in a Communication on the modernization and simplification of the CAP, which the Commission will publish at the end of 2017 and which will assess possible policy development options.