Central And Eastern European Agriculture In An Expanding European Union

The problems caused by the proposed enlargement of the EU to include the associated Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) are discussed in this book. The two main agricultural issues raised by this are the relative competitiveness of CEEC agricultural policies.

Since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been pushing for a quick 'return to Europe'. The project of 'expanding European unity' is in full progress, however, so far none of the former Soviet bloc countries have been able to join the European Union. Technical problems, related to financial management and administrative matters, still have to be overcome, but more fundamental issues are also at stake: what are the borders of Central and Eastern Europe? And will the eastward expansion of the European Union be conducted on the basis of western images and stereotypes of `the East'? This volume examines the state of affairs after ten years of attempts to further enlarge the Union. Written by authors from 'the East' as well as 'the West' some of the articles focus on the general issue of how to distinguish between Western, Central and Eastern Europe, while others discuss the specific situation of the countries that are closest to joining the European Union: Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been pushing for a quick 'return to Europe'. The project of 'expanding European unity' is in full progress, however, so far none of the former Soviet bloc countries have been able to join the European Union. Technical problems, related to financial management and administrative matters, still have to be overcome, but more fundamental issues are also at stake: what are the borders of Central and Eastern Europe? And will the eastward expansion of the European Union be conducted on the basis of western images and stereotypes of `the East'? This volume examines the state of affairs after ten years of attempts to further enlarge the Union. Written by authors from 'the East' as well as 'the West' some of the articles focus on the general issue of how to distinguish between Western, Central and Eastern Europe, while others discuss the specific situation of the countries that are closest to joining the European Union: Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

The strengthening, enhancement and expansion of ecological farming and rural development in Central and Eastern Europe is regarded as a long-term goal for the countries in the region, especially in a period of economic, political and systemic transition - a transition which would be inadequate to describe as occurring solely within these countries themselves, since it is occurring, rather, within the larger context of European Union expansion and economic globalization. Solutions to the present problems faced in the agriculture sector that are environmentally and socio-economically desirable should be developed, not just in the present or in the immediate future but also in the long run. A challenge that needs to be faced is how to develop rural areas in a sustainable manner, as well as to produce and consume food in an ecological way. There are many processes that hamper developments in this direction. This book offers an analysis of such processes and considers how the elements of science and technology policy in agriculture, which are intertwined, may promote sustainable practices that reconcile agriculture and biodiversity.Important issues discussed are; How to increase the importance of ecological farming; The potential for ecological farming and healthy food production in developing CEE countries; and EU enlargement as a stimulus for ecological agriculture development in CEE countries.

The former USSR could become self-sufficient in food, but in the medium term will probably remain a net agricultural importer - if it can persuade exporters to extend credit. But Central Eastern European agricultural exports are likely to expand. Central Eastern Europe could become a tougher, more aggressive player in agriculture, principally in the markets for more demanding food products - especially pork, poultry, and fruits and vegetables.

This title was first published in 2000: This volume analyzes key issues of the process of integrating Central and Eastern European countries with the European Union related to agriculture. The issues include the comparative advantage of CEEC agriculture and its development under various accession policy scenarios; the likely policy developments in both the CEECs and the EU, based on economic, social and political economy considerations; the expected economic impacts and adjustment costs for the agro-food sector under various policy outcomes; the most important constraints for integration including policy convergence issues and internal constraints; and how integration will potentially affect trade and labour flows in the Union. The country combines detailed country-specific and region-wide empirical and theoretical analysis.

The European Union (EU) has embarked upon a major expansion into Central and Eastern Europe, with eight countries from the region becoming members in 2004, two more expected to become members in 2007, and a process established by which the countries of the Western Balkans can eventually accede to the EU. As part of their necessary transition from centrally planned to market economies, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe need to meet EU requirements for monitoring land tenure and use. This policy paper explores the issues for land tenure data in this context and makes recommendations for suitable approaches for the countries in EU accession. It will be of particular interest to policy-makers and their advisers in Central and Easter Europe.

This volume is a study of present and future Common Agricultural Policy in the European Union. It focuses on the practicality of policy proposals in the face of huge challenges, especially in the context of EU enlargement to the east.

This book describes the transformation of the agricultural sector in East-Central European countries after the collapse of the socialist system at the beginning of the 20th century. Through considering their spatial diversity, it identifies diagnoses and evaluates the social and economic processes that have taken place in eleven countries which are currently the members of the European Community. The book analyses all important elements of spatial structure of agriculture such as land use, agrarian structure, agricultural population, technical facilities, structure and volume of production, yields, and types of farms. It also provides a wealth of maps and charts that facilitate the interpretation of the identified phenomena. As such the book is a great resource for academics, students, practitioners and policy-makers in geography and food economics.