Agricultural subsidies and the reform of the common agricultural policy is the last journey of flagship?

Abstract

¿Ha empezado el último viaje del buque insignia? For a long time, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was the flagship of the European integration process. CAP was shaped as the strongest interventionist policy, being able to control agricultural prices and products within the common market. As a result, the European Community was conferred a competence almost exclusive on agriculture matters and the European Institutions developed a vast array of rules and principles which had to be implemented by Member States with little room for a national margin of decision. The reform effort of the last three decade, however, has substantially altered the structure of the CAP: prices and products are no longer controlled by public bodies and the withdrawal of the competences conferred to the EU is under consideration. Has the last trip of the flagship begun?