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CAP History
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The CAP was set up after World War II when there were food shortages and rations.
It was set up to end the hostilities that led to wars and to create prosperity through co-operation among all Europeans countries.
The Treaty of Rome defined the general objectives of a common agricultural policy and the principles were set out at the Stresa Conference in July 1958.
In 1960, the CAP mechanisms were adopted by the six founding E.E.C Member States. Two years later, in 1962, the CAP came into force.
The CAP had five founding aims:
- To Increase productivity
- To provide a fair standard of living for farmers
- To stabilise markets
- To provide regular food supplies
- To ensure reasonable prices for consumers
And it was based on three guiding principles:
- A single market in Europe
- Community Preference
- Shared costs