For whom is this course?

The course is in the first place developed for any first year student registered at an academic institution in Europe in the field of (agricultural) economics, (rural) sociology, agronomy, European Studies and political science.

But also if you are an academic teacher, policy maker or you work for an NGO or lobby organisation, this course will provide an essential tool for all people that have a professional interest in the CAP and want to bring their knowledge on (parts of) the CAP up to date quickly

Over the last decades a series of reforms were deemed necessary to align the CAP with new issues such as environmental degradation, loss of bio diversity, climate change, public health and the viability of rural areas.

Not only the content of the CAP has changed, but the political arena as well: the European Union increased from its initial six members to currently 27 . In addition, the 2009 Lisbon Treaty gave the European Parliament a larger influence in the EU’s decision making process.

The negotiations on trade liberalisation in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as the emergence of new economic powers such as China, India, Russia and Brazil also had their effects on the policy debate.

Currently a new reform of the CAP is being discussed, to be implemented in 2014.

This course will bring participants up to date on both CAP’s history and political context as well as on the current debate on the latest reforms, in a modern and easy accessible way.