European Union agricultural policy reforms and their results

Agriculture has been the primary source of living and the oldest production activity enabling the maintenance of the existence of mankind since the early times of human history. As it constitutes the basic necessities of humans, agricultural sector is located in the center of the social life. In addition to this previous prominent status, agricultural sector and the agricultural policies which lead this sector are being adapted to new circumstances and still maintain their importance.Agricultural policies can be considered in either national level or international/supranational levels such as in the integration process of Europe. Besides the anxiety resulted from shortages experienced due to the Second World War, the necessities of preserving the income levels of the farmers who constituted a significant part of the active population and eliminating the dissimilarity between the national agricultural policies of member countries led the Community to form a common policy in agriculture. Common Agricultural Policy, being the first common policy experience of the European Union, is a Community practice which has been carried out for half a century and reached these days through the reforms which it has been undergone.The aim of this study is to examine the reforms in Common Agricultural Policy and their results. In order to reveal the causality of the changes in the European Union?s agricultural policy, the Union?s agricultural structure and the role of agriculture in the economy of the Union is analyzed with the help of both periodical and actual statistical data.Keywords: European Union, Agricultural Sector, Common Agricultural Policy, Common Agricultural Policy Reforms