ABSTRACT

The first priority of CAP is the support of agricultural income, an objective which, is in principle, aspatial. The same is true for its mechanism of implementation, indirectly through market prices and directly through subsidies. As a consequence, the geographical configuration of CAP spending is determined through a bottom-up procedure influenced by the composition of agricultural production, the structure of farms and the structure of agricultural prices. It is not possible to predetermine the distribution of CAP financial resources, either by taking other criteria into account or by implementing a deliberate scheme of a top-down nature. This means that while CAP involves a significant redistribution of income between regions and social groups, this occurs irrespective of existing regional disparities. Though a spatial dimension has recently been introduced to agricultural policy objectives (reform of CAP in 1992, Fifth Environmental Action Plan, proposals of Agenda 2000), this is mainly related to the protection of the environment (“greening of CAP”); regional development issues remain virtually absent.