The EU's Common Agricultural Policy - curse or blessing?

The EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was established in the early years of the European Community and was based on the goal of providing affordable food in sufficient amounts. Since then the CAP has been reformed repeatedly. The current goal of the CAP is to guarantee healthy foods as well as the care of the rural environment. To achieve these goals, a two-pillar programme was set up based on a common market order and on the development of rural areas. This article provides an overview of the CAP as well as an evaluation of the measures.