“Greening” the Common Agricultural Policy: Challenges in the Perspective of 2020

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the oldest common policy of the European Union, being launched in 1962 with the aim to support agricultural productivity but also to address more challenges, as climate change and sustainable management of natural resources. Our research aims to highlight the transformations undergone by CAP during its multistage reform process in order to sustain the agricultural sector in European Union whilst simultaneously protecting the environment and safeguarding biodiversity (the so called “greening” process of CAP). In our analysis we will focus (through a quantitative and qualitative assessment) to the financial assistance provided to the European farmers in order to adjust their methods and systems to cope with the effects of a changing climate and to work in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Last but not least, our research will underline the challenges and opportunities for Romania in the perspective of 2020 and the measures and policies that can be financed through CAP for environmentally sustainable farming that uses natural resources prudently with respect for future generations.