The Political Scenarios and the Choices System

Abstract

The European Union’s institutional design and mechanisms for agriculture provide us with a key to understanding the evolution of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The EU scenario or troika is made up of the European Commission (EC), representing the general interests of the Union, the European Parliament (EP), which speaks on behalf of EU citizens, and the Council of the European Union, which represents the member states (MS). Together, these three institutions set policy guidelines and approve legislative acts that are subsequently applied throughout the EU. The treaties govern the powers and responsibilities of these institutions, as well as the rules and processes they follow. According to the rules and decision-making procedures laid down in the treaties, European institutions adopt the legal acts necessary for the implementation of EU policies.