An inside view of the CAP reform process: explaining the MacSharry, Agenda 2000, and Fischler Reforms

From the outset, the European Union's common agricultural policy (CAP) was subject to scathingly criticism. Despite this, no substantial reform was undertaken until 1992. Then, in little more than a decade, from 1992 to 2003, the CAP experienced three significant reforms: the 1992 MacSharry Reform, the 1999 Agenda 2000 Reform, and the 2003 Fischler Reform, profoundly changing its original design. The objective of the book is to contribute to a better understanding of this process of EU decision-making and policy reform. After thirty years of policy stasis, what unlocked policy reform, how was the process managed, and why did it not achieve all of the stated objectives? The text focuses on the role of the Commission and the Commissioner for Agriculture, the Council of Ministers and its Presidency, and the European Parliament. It adopts a heuristic political economy approach, drawing upon the economics and political science literatures as appropriate. The MacSharry reform was much influenced by the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations, and the 2003 Fischler reform by the Doha Round of WTO negotiations. A Delphi survey of key decision-makers, assessing their perception of the drivers of policy reform, and an analysis of subsequent CAP reform, including the Health Check in 2008 and preparations for the post-2013 CAP review, round off the discussion. A Foreword is contributed by former Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler.