Greece and the Common Agricultural Policy

Abstract

On 1 January 1981 Greece became the tenth full member of the European Community. The single most important aspect of EEC membership for agriculture in Greece is that it now becomes subject to the Community’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). As with the UK, Ireland Denmark after the first enlargement of the Community, there is a transitionary phase during which agricultural prices in Greece are to be harmonised with those of the existing Community. During this phase accessionary compensatory amounts are being used to bridge the gap between Greek and Community prices and so, in principle at least, the Community’s common market now encompasses ten countries. As a basis for discussion this chapter provides a brief overview of agriculture in Greece, and presents some estimates of the costs and benefits to Greece of the CAP.