Farmers protesting against manure legislation at the Binnenhof, 20 January, 1988. Photo: Rob C. Croes, National Archives / Anefo.
‘Greening’ the Common Agricultural Policy: between interventionism and market thinking, 1975-2000
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was and remains one of the most important policy areas of the European Union and its predecessors (EC/EU). During the first decades of the European Communities’ existence, the CAP was considered the flagship of European integration and collaboration. However, the interventionist and protectionist CAP also led to high costs for consumers and taxpayers and subsidised surplus production.
This model came under increasing pressure from the 1980s onwards. After all, the mantra “more market, less government” also gained ground in the European Community. In this presentation, Emiel Geurts (University of Amsterdam) argues that market ideologues tried to steer the CAP in a new direction by using ‘green’ arguments. Led primarily by British and Dutch ministries and Brussels officials, sustainability was used as a lever to deregulate the CAP and embed it in international free trade. Opponents of liberalisation also turned to sustainability arguments to justify the interventionist model. In short, in the battle over the economic structure of the CAP, environmental and nature conservation served as arguments to reinforce the desired direction.
CPG researcher Koen van Zon will act as co-referent.
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