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This text highlights the key players in EU policy making, including the European Commission, Council of Ministers, European Parliament, and Court of Justice. It also explores the interests and positions of various EU member states in agricultural policy debates.
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Key Players in EU Policy Making • The COMMISSION ( in principle independent) • Has sole right of proposal • The COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ( the member states are represented) • Has the power of decision
Other Players • The EP ( relatively marginal player ) • Expected to represent Third-World, consumer or more general public interests • Another role : giving its “opinion” • The COURT OF JUSTICE ( significant influence on decision process) • Rules on legality of proposal • The COURT OF AUDITORS • The ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE ( very little weight ) • represents the interests of the farmers • AGRICULTURAL INTEREST GROUPS
France : Biggest Agricultural sector in the EU. Attached to principles of the CAP. Intense and at times disruptive debate over agricultural policy between mainstream “ productivist”(Arable) , disparate “ruralist” farmers organisations, and the government. Aims to maintain the rural population vs. strong export tradition. Germany : Small but powerful farm sector opposes any market oriented reforms of policy. Welcomes Eastern enlargement of EU but in favour of high support prices. Italy : Latifundia vs. small holdings. Demands favourable treatment of wine, durum wheat., fruit and vegetables. May accept measures to reduce support costs for “northern products” to free funds for their own purposes. Greece : Increased structural funds. Favourable treatment of particular goods. Portugal : Increased structural funds. Spain: Increased structural funds.
Austria and Finland : History of high prices and protection thus the opposition of price reductions under the CAP. Belgium and Luxembourg : Small contribution of agriculture to GNP. Usually take pro farmer stance. Pace of European integration greatest interest of Benelux countries. Denmark and Holland : Efficient producers and exporters. Opposed to national aids which distort competition. Derive financial benefit from CAP. Most actively concerned with environment. Ireland : Agriculture important to economy and Ireland needs access to export markets. Much exports in intervention and opposes dilution of support system. United Kingdom :Relatively small but efficient farm sector. Advocates of reforming CAP in direction of lower prices and trade liberalisation. Traditional UK policy of low food prices and obtaining food from cheapest sources around the world. Sweden : Favours market oriented reform. Interested in market in Arctic Regions.