EU politics case study
If you're looking for a topic to illustrate the complexities of EU politics, there's probably no better place to begin than the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It's the most expensive EU program, and there might be enough news in the near future to allow you to assemble materials for a teaching plan.
Remember, that behind the stated concerns for efficiency and the environment lie issues concerning wealth (France and the UK) and poverty (Poland and Portugal); "industrial" agriculture (France and Germany) and village farming (Greece and Poland); and free market solutions and state protection of farmers.Here's a beginning from the BBC:
EU looks to cut farming subsidies
"The EU is renewing efforts to reform its Common Agricultural Policy, the rural payments system that costs more than 40bn euros (£32bn) a year.
"It is due to announce proposals aimed at making farming more efficient and environmentally friendly..."The commission wants to progressively cut subsidies to farms, and shift the money saved to protect and promote traditional family farms...
"Most EU agriculture ministers say food production has to be increased, but oppose the UK demands [to eliminate subsidies], and the French government will fight hard to keep elements of the old system..."
See also:
- CAP Overview from the EU
- CAP news from EU Politics Today
- Most EU member states defend common agricultural policy from Forbes.com
- Wyn Grant's CAP blog
- The Common Agricultural Policy: A Brief Introduction a .pdf file from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Labels: economics, EU, globalization, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:12 AM
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