Common market organisations within the common agricultural policy with special reference to areas of particular importance to the Maltese Islands

Abstract

This dissertation aims to be the ground work for other studies to be undertaken in the future by other students within the ambit of the agricultural sector in the European Union as related to the Maltese agriculture. Its goal is that of spurring discussion about such a sensitive topic by contributing opinions which are not tainted by any partisan interests. Therefore, it highlights the fundamental concepts which are basically the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy and then also makes a case-study within the wine sector which at the moment seems to be a sector within the Maltese agriculture which is receiving particular interest by the authorities. Thus, Chapter 1 gives a very brief outline of the Common Agricultural Policy from its inception up till today. It attempts to fit the CAP within the world context and focus on the importance of Common Market Organisations. It also refers to the funding structure of the CAP through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Moreover, it gives an overview of Rural Development which is becoming more important within the new CAP as reformed by Agenda 2000. Chapter 2 is then more specific and tackles the issue of a particular Common Market Organisation, namely that of the wine sector. Once again, in this case a historical outlook is present so that the reader will be in a position to place this CMO within its context. Furthermore, Chapter 2 also offers an in-depth analysis of the new wine CMO as reformed so that a clear position as to the regulation of wine production within the EU is presented. Chapter 3 is more localised and attempts to tackle certain issues which emerge from Malta's Position Paper. Due to length restraints this Chapter had to be limited to crops only and other issues had to be discarded. Moreover, special emphasis is also put on the wine sector and specifically on production and problems faced within the Maltese scenario. Finally, Chapter 4 focuses on legislative instruments present both in Malta and in the EU which directly affect agriculture. The main objective of this Chapter is to give an overview of the Maltese legislative instruments which may aid or hinder agriculture. At the same time, reference is made to various EU initiatives which could be applicable to Malta or else which could form the basis for a special agreement with Malta. Finally, one has to stress the fact that this thesis only focuses on certain sectors which were held to be of relevance to the present study. Quite understandably it is next to impossible to mention all the different structures and measures which are available within the agricultural sector of the European Union. Thus, the main aim was that of establishing the general framework, focusing on a particular sector and relating everything to the Maltese situation. The study is therefore two-fold: an overview of the general situation both within the EU and in Malta, and then specific attention being afforded to the wine sector.