ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a brief panorama of the major events of the development of the agricultural sector in Europe. It provides an overview of the major socioeconomic consequences of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The chapter also provides an interpretation of the events with emphasis placed on the outcomes of CAP in regard to key interest groups. An increase in social inequalities and environmental problems has also accompanied the long-term growth of the European Community (EC). The growth of inequalities has occurred both at the sectorial and territorial levels. In a capitalist economy, changes in the agricultural system depend on the combined and indivisible effect of three variables: “the economic context,” “macroeconomic policies,” and “agrarian policies.” Changes in the agricultures of EC member countries represent an interesting case study. Despite some discontinuities, the economic performance of EC member countries has been clearly superior to that of the other industrialized economies.
