The Common Agricultural Policy (PAC), created in 1962, is a set of measures aimed at supporting European farmers, an improvement in the productivity of the agricultural sector, and a contribution to the fight against climate change. All these points encompass a common thought of sustainable management and economic development with a focus on the agricultural sector. Consequently, the PAC also seeks to promote jobs in the agricultural sector and its related. It is a policy that involves all the countries of the European Union, managed and financed by the bloc's budgetary resources.
At first, it can be said that the CAP is a policy that has evolved over the years in order to respond to economic instabilities and the demands and needs of citizens. Besides that, aims to support an important minority of the European community, what, no case, are the farmers, who manage to perform their social function being recognized for their very important role. In addition, crucial points for sustainable development, social and economic aspects of the European Union are what govern the functioning of the CAP. Among these points we can highlight: free exchange of products, common price level, financial solidarity and preference for community products. The first two points highlight the issue of the unity of the agricultural market, from the moment that there are common management rules, common prices and a concern for European borders. The principle of financial solidarity is linked to the solidarity of the various regions of the EU and allows the common agricultural policy system to function. Lastly, the principle of Community preference aims to protect European farmers against imports from the world market at lower prices.
The CAP reform, known as Ciolos Reform, began to be discussed in the year 2009, in which the major points to be discussed would be: the reduction of the previously established budget, a commitment to agricultural diversity, and a policy aimed at fighting climate change. This reform was approved in 2013, period when the European Union was going through a serious monetary crisis and needed to cut spending, and one of the cuts established was the reduction of the budget established for the policy in question. There was a budget reduction of 42,6 billion euros for the period 2014 a 2020 in the performance of the new CAP reform. As a result of the budget reduction, it is unfeasible that it can meet all the demands and needs of the agricultural sector and the European countryside, ESG agendas and climate summits, many argue that the PAC stopped being fundamentally concerned with agriculture and began to prioritize economic aspects..
currently, as a succession of the facts presented above, a transition regulation is in force, laying down the conditions governing the granting of support under the EAGF (European Agricultural Guarantee Fund) and the EAFRD (European Rural Development Fund) during the years of 2014 e 2020, ensuring, thus, a pleasant transition to all involved and future plans. With the approval of the new framework, the new proposals must be implemented in all European Union countries, from January 2023.
In summary, the European Union is a major player on the international stage, an economically powerful and exemplary figure, and points such as environmental preservation, attention to minorities and self-sufficiency make up the panorama of a block developed. Therefore, keeping in view the development of the countries involved and attending to all exposed stakeholders, the CAP must not fall into neglect.
REFERENCES
EUROPEAN UNION . The common agricultural policy. Available in: https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy/cap-glance_pt#contributingtothecap. Access in: 11 Apr. 2021.
Moyano-Estrada, Eduardo; Ortega, Antony Caesar et al. The CAP Reform for the Period 2014-2020: a commitment to territorial development. Journal of Rural Economics and Sociology, [S.L], v. 52, n. 4, p. 687-704, We can only hope that these take place peacefully.. 2014.
Authors: Francesca Abduch e Giovanna Bruno, NENE/ESPM researchers.
