UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Intergovernmental Organization

Name of Organization:	European Commission

Name of Focal Point:	Ms. Aurore Maillet, Ms. Gyorgyi Gurban

Initiative Title:	Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Internet links:

Scope:	Regional: - Europe and North America

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: Pre 1997 End:

Lead Institution:	European Commission

Stakeholders/Partners:

Relevent issues:	- Agrarian reform - Environmentally sound pest control - Water management in agriculture - Early warning systems for monitoring food supply and demand - Integrating rural development strategies into broader development strategies

Objectives/Challenges:

The policy aims at the sustainable production of food and non-food products, safeguarding the countryside and providing environmental services, employment in rural areas and helping to reinforce the economic and social cohesion between groups and regions.

Lessons Learned:

Integrated approaches involving all rural actors, whether they are farmers, foresters or local enterprises, can contribute enormously to a region's ability to derive sustainable benefit from its natural and cultural heritage.

Policy Options:

focus on boosting growth and creating jobs in rural areas and on improving sustainability through rural development regulation in:
- improving competitivenss for farming and forestry
- environment and countryside
- improving quality of life and diversification of the rural economy

Summary:

Born around 50 years ago, the CAP is the oldest and the only common European policy with an exclusive Community Competence. As European agriculture evolved, the policy gradually moved away from price and production support to a more comprehensive policy support through the single farm payment scheme, in addition to the preservation and management of natural resources. Rural development is a vital policy area; the strengthening of EU rural development policy has therefore become an overall EU priority.