European Unions Common Agricultural Poilicy
World War II, a drastic time for all of the world. It pretty much set the tone for the rest of modern history. Europe was extremely weakened and the United States had gained prominence due her heroic efforts for the allied states. Not only had many European countries had been weakened politically, but socially as well. They in turn lost many basic civilized rights that many Europeans had taken for granted all of there lives. Due to the high cost of war all of Europe and the United States where forced to begin rationing of many food stuffs and clothing. This effected Europe the most, considering that it was there actual geographic location where the war was set. Many basic amenities of life such as sugar, meat, and butter where in extreme low quantities. Thus entering the arena of the common agricultural Policy. CAP was created out of the bowels of World War II, the fledging European Community formed a policy that would keep all of Europe's poor farmers up and working no matter the economic situation that was brewing. It would allow farmers to sell there products at an fixed rate no matter if it really was at that price or not, causing tons of farmer whom may or may not actually should still be open or not stay in bu
The initial objectives were set out in Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome. The Common Agricultural Policy had three main principles: the promotion of a single market in agriculture produce; a system of protectionism giving EU produce the advantage over other outside produce and joint financing for all European Union member states.(McCormick, 181) By these actions the European Union have the largest surpluses of sugar, eggs, poultry and dairy products. These surpluses translate into huge exports for the EU and thus they flood the market with the before mentioned goods. There economic plan for the large and small farmers has worked miraculously. Farmers are richer than before and have been able to stay in business despite falling prices for such agricultural commodities. CAP has increased productivity, ensured a good standard of living, stabilized markets secured supplies, and has protected European farmers from fluctuating market prices for agricultural produced goods (McCormick,183). As mentioned before, agricultural subsidies also maintain artificially high food prices throughout the EU. Some have suggested that Europeans pay about 25% higher prices for food than they would without the CAP (World Book online). The CAP is disproportionately favorable to certain areas of the EU, notably France, Spain, and Portugal. These countries receive large amounts of money at the expense of other countries, especially Germany.
Some topics in this essay:
European Union,
Agricultural Policy,
European Community,
War II,
Union United,
Common Agricultural,
Europe United,
Europe West,
West CAP,
Agricultural Ministers,
european union,
common agricultural policy,
common agricultural,
agricultural policy,
free market,
european community,
market price,
third world,
poor farmers,
treaty rome,
agricultural policy cap,
unemployment rate,
world war ii,
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Approximate Word count = 1863
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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