Qualitative analysis of the European Union members positions under the Common Agricultural Policy reform

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform in 2003 represents the entry into the third phase of the CAP. The final shape of the reform packet is a result of a compromise between external and internal interests of the EU members. The external interests, such as the liberalization of the agricultural trade under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and EU enlargement, represented a common platform that in principle did not create a barrier between the member's positions. On the other hand, internal interests of the members affected significantly their positions. The most important internal interests may be classified as follows: the EU budget spending, level of farm subsidies, effects of the reform on farm employment, farm income, rural viability, consumers, environment, food safety or animal welfare. Positions of the individual EU members were a function of the agricultural structures and competitiveness. Coalitions of the EU members were created during the reform negotiations: reform-liberal group, cohesion group, conservative group and the group of specific interests. Aims of the future members of the EU (10 candidate countries) in the reform were not to deteriorate their EU entry conditions and to guarantee equal treatment, comparable with that of the EU-15. The analysis of the EU member's positions under the CAP 2003 reform is an inspiration for defining of the Czech Republic's position, as a new member state, in the agricultural area.