Reform of the CAP . Will the real one come some day ?

There are currently several reasons for reforming the CAP. First, EU-15 must now incorporate the wishes expressed by European citizens concerning the environment and food safety. Secondly, with regard to WTO requirements, the expiry at the end of 2003 of the 'Peace Clause' agreed in the Uruguay Round adds a further challenge for the reform of CAP farm subsidies. Finally, the eastern enlargement of the CAP raises the problem of the financial sustainability of European policy, necessitating in-depth reform. The mid-term review proposed by the European Commission in July 2002 is probably not the end of the story but it is one of the available options and fairly consistent with previous reforms. The issues of CAP reform and the various possible scenarios for 2006 are examined in this paper.