The aim of the study was to determine the complementarity of the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy in terms of their impact on the development of rural areas between 2021 and 2027. In their research, the authors paid particular attention to the distribution of support between the aforementioned policies in the context of social and economic problems occurring in rural areas. The empirical material consisted of literature on the subject and documentation related to the preparation and implementation of the analyzed policies. The analysis of documents, literature on the subject and practice indicates a growing need to demonstrate the complementarity of both policies in the process of programing individual development instruments, especially in the territorial dimension, where the separation of individual aspects of socio-economic life is extremely difficult, hence the need for a cross-sector approach, definition and response to local challenges.