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Another Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: What to Expect

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  • Michel Petit

Abstract

Another reform of the CAP is on the agenda. This common policy, which was initiated almost 60 years ago is criticised by almost everybody. Even farmers, who are the main beneficiaries, are critical. Moreover, many NGOs that are concerned with a broad range of issues such as the environment, food safety, animal welfare, etc. argue that the CAP makes matters worse in these domains. These shortcomings and criticisms of the CAP suggest that a radical reform is in order. Yet, an analysis of the main determinants of the CAP since its inception suggests that such an outcome is very unlikely. The article focus is on a few long‐term economic and institutional forces which determine the interests of, and positions taken by, the main actors involved in the political process where they pursue their own objectives. The CAP debate today is dominated more than ever by the contradiction between the extreme pressures to cut public expenditures and the desire to protect farmers’ incomes which will be greatly affected by cuts in European payments. In this context, other societal concerns, although very vocal, will probably not be much taken into account. Similarly, equity concerns raised by the uneven distribution of payments received by farmers will probably be addressed only marginally. Une nouvelle réforme de la PAC est à l'ordre du jour. Presque tout le monde, y compris les agriculteurs qui en sont les principaux bénéficiaires, critique cette politique commune, initiée il y a presque soixante ans. En outre, de nombreuses ONG concernées par un large éventail de questions telles que l'environnement, la sécurité des aliments, le bien‐être des animaux, etc. soutiennent que la PAC aggrave la situation dans ces domaines. Ces lacunes et critiques de la PAC suggèrent qu'une réforme radicale s'impose. Cependant, selon une analyse des principaux déterminants de la PAC depuis sa création, un tel résultat est très improbable. L'article se concentre sur quelques forces économiques et institutionnelles à long terme qui déterminent les intérêts et les positions des principaux acteurs impliqués dans le processus de conception des politiques et qui poursuivent leurs propres objectifs. Le débat sur la PAC est aujourd'hui dominé plus que jamais par la contradiction entre les pressions extrêmes visant à réduire les dépenses publiques et la volonté de protéger les revenus des agriculteurs, qui seront grandement affectés par la réduction des paiements européens. Dans ce contexte, les autres préoccupations de la société, bien que très vives, ne seront probablement pas beaucoup prises en compte. De même, les problèmes d’équité soulevés par la répartition inégale des paiements reçus par les agriculteurs ne seront probablement traités que de manière marginale. Eine weitere Reform der GAP steht auf der Tagesordnung. Diese gemeinsame Politik, die vor fast sechzig Jahren eingeleitet wurde, wird von fast jedem beanstandet. Selbst die Landwirte, die die Hauptbegünstigten sind, sind kritisch. Darüber hinaus argumentieren viele Nichtregierungsorganisationen, die sich mit einem breiten Spektrum an Themen wie Umwelt, Lebensmittelsicherheit, Tierschutz usw. befassen, dass die GAP die Situation in diesen Bereichen verschlimmert. Diese Mängel und die Kritik an der GAP deuten darauf hin, dass eine radikale Reform erforderlich ist. Eine Analyse der wichtigsten Bestimmungsgründe der GAP seit ihrer Einführung zeigt jedoch, dass ein solches Ergebnis sehr unwahrscheinlich ist. Der Artikel konzentriert sich auf einige langfristige wirtschaftliche und institutionelle Kräfte, welche die Interessen und Positionen der Hauptakteure im politischen Prozess bestimmen, über die sie ihre eigenen Ziele verfolgen. Die heutige Debatte über die GAP wird mehr denn je vom Widerspruch zwischen dem extremen Druck, die öffentlichen Ausgaben zu kürzen, und dem Wunsch, die Einkommen der Landwirte zu stützen, beherrscht, die von den Kürzungen der EU‐Zahlungen erheblich betroffen sein würden. In diesem Zusammenhang werden andere gesellschaftliche Anliegen, auch wenn sie sehr lautstark sind, wahrscheinlich nur wenig Berücksichtigung finden. Ebenso werden die Bedenken hinsichtlich der Gerechtigkeit, die sich aus der ungleichen Verteilung der Zahlungen an die Landwirte ergeben, wahrscheinlich nur am Rande angesprochen.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Petit, 2019. "Another Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: What to Expect," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 18(1), pages 34-39, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:18:y:2019:i:1:p:34-39
    DOI: 10.1111/1746-692X.12221
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Swinnen, Johan, 2021. "The political economy of agricultural and food policies," IFPRI book chapters, in: Agricultural development: New perspectives in a changing world, chapter 14, pages 471-502, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Petit, Michel, 1985. "Determinants of agricultural policies in the United States and the European Community:," Research reports 51, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    1. Kryszak, Łukasz, 2020. "Income Convergence In The Agricultural Sector In The Context Of The European Union’S Common Agricultural Policy," Roczniki (Annals), Polish Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness - Stowarzyszenie Ekonomistow Rolnictwa e Agrobiznesu (SERiA), vol. 2020(3).
    2. Roberto Cagliero & Francesco Licciardo & Marzia Legnini, 2021. "The Evaluation Framework in the New CAP 2023–2027: A Reflection in the Light of Lessons Learned from Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Emil Erjavec & Ilona Rac, 2023. "Improving the Quality of CAP Strategic Planning through Enhancing the Role of Agricultural Economics," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 22(2), pages 71-76, August.
    4. Roberto Cagliero & Marzia Legnini & Francesco Licciardo, 2021. "Evaluating the New Common Agricultural Policy: Improving the Rules," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 20(3), pages 27-33, December.

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