L'esprit de Stresa

The Stresa Conference of 1958, between the first six Member States of the European Community, was the first step in formulating the common agricultural policy. Its conclusions contained valid principles, which were subsequently forgotten. In 1992, a fundamental reform of the CAP became necessary. This has its positive aspects, but it raises the total cost of the CAP, worsens its administrative complexity and risks encouraging the temptation for "renationalisation". And to conform with the cuts in exports required by the Uruguay Round, further constraints are likely to be needed...