PT Journal AU Sadlowski, A TI The planned reform of the Common Agricultural Policy with particular reference to the direct support system SO Agricultural Economics PY 2020 BP 381 EP 390 VL 66 IS 8 DI 10.17221/397/2019-AGRICECON DE Common Agricultural Policy; direct payments; reform of the Common Agricultural Policy AB Having evaluated the situation in agriculture and rural areas, and having assessed the significance of new external and internal conditions, the European Commission has decided to reform the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. This article presents the essence of the part of the reform plan which affects the direct support system. The author of the article also examines the impact of the reform on the system's capacity to achieve the set goals, and on its efficiency. The research showed that the new legal framework proposed by the Commission would not directly improve the efficiency of the system, but the increased decision-making authority it grants to Member States provides an opportunity to reduce administrative outlays on the functioning of the scheme. Likewise, the effectiveness of a reformed direct support system in achieving the set goals will largely depend on decisions made by Member States, i.e. on the appropriate choice of instruments, and the accuracy of their form, as well as the equitable distribution of the available funds. ER