The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the oldest EU policies. It has undergone several changes in terms of measures and focus. The most important changes can be traced back to the MacSharry reform in 1992 and the Fishler reform in 2003. This thesis examines the process of adopting the CAP reform for the period 2023–2027. The methodology is based on the application of process and policy analysis within our own analytical framework. The analytical framework is based on the authors Garzon (2006), Moyer and Josling (2002) and Lovec and Erjavec (2014). It consists of political science models that combine different concepts to explain political change, contextual change factors, by which we understand economic shocks, external trade negotiations, social orientations and technological innovation, and an institutional framework that helps us interpret the abilities of different actors to influence the decision-making process within the EU. The European Commission's proposal for a new CAP did not envisage any major changes in policy direction. Despite the UK's exit from the European Union and the coronavirus pandemic, it is not changing direction and is continuing on the path laid out by previous reforms. Criticism of the negative environmental impact of the policy is growing louder, leading to the political network being expanded with the accession of the Parliamentary Environment Committee (COMENVI) in a co-decision role. The budget remains an important topic of discussion, but does not take on the role of a driving force for change. In the period of Parliament's co-decision role and the absence of a charismatic person in the office of Commissioner for Agriculture, the conservative positions of the national governments, which give priority to maintaining the status quo, prevail in the negotiations.
|
