Co-responsibility and the future of Irish agriculture

Abstract

Since its institution the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been under continuous attack (Fennell, 1973). In recent years the criticism has centred around the budgetary cost of the policy (Hayes, 1979). The cost was growing rapidly up to 1979 when it was threatening to reach the ceiling of the "own resources" system. Associated with this rise in cost the volume of criticism grew amplified in particular by United Kingdom and West German interests. While many proposals for radical reform have been advanced over the years (see, for example, Fennell, 1973, Tracy and Hodac (eds), 1979, and EEC Commission (Com (80) 800), the Community has rejected the need for radical change and has decided to proceed by modifying the existing policy (EEC Commission COM (81) 300). The most important of these modifications are the pursuance of a prudent price policy which entails lowering real prices and the extension of co-responsibility or producer participation in the financing of the policy.