This paper deals with Poland’s membership in the European Union and its effects on the Polish agriculture. The integration of Poland’s agricultural economy into the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will become one of the key issues and has been one of the most difficult issues during the negotiations on the conditions of Poland’s membership in the EU.1
The aim of this paper is to point out the advantages and disadvantages, the costs and benefits as well as the opportunities and threats to Poland’s agricultural sector by comparing it with the situation of Spain in the middle of the 1980’s when Spain became a new member of the European Community. A comparison between these two states makes sense because both had quite similar starting points when they were joining the EC/EU.
Therefore, the first chapter will give a historical overview of the agricultural sector in both states first of all. After that, production and export rates, proportions to each GDP and international scales as well as prospective and present changes after EC/EU-membership will be shortly presented and set into comparison.
The second chapter compares the Spanish membership negotiations for its agricultural sector to the positions of Poland. Both states gained special exceptions, privileges and transitional periods for their agriculture which are not only useful for the farmers but for financial policy, too. These points will be described and compared.
The third chapter presents the Polish agriculture’s future expectations. On the one hand threats and benefits will be listed up and proved to their validity. On the other hand, the Spanish expectations and fears of EC-membership in 1986 will be presented to prove the circumference of positive and negative expectations that came into existence.
The fourth chapter gives a summary how far Poland and Spain are comparable in terms of their agricultural sector. Second, the experiences of Spain are used as a template to give answers for the future questions of the Polish agriculture.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The agricultural sector of Spain and Poland
1.1. Difficult starting points in Spain and Poland
1.1.1 Spain
1.1.2 Poland
1.1.3 Figures, rates and quotas of Spain and Poland
2. Differences and similarities between the Spanish and the Polish accession
3. Comparison between the former Spanish and the common Polish expectations of the EC/EU accession
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the impact of European Union membership on the Polish agricultural sector by drawing a comparative analysis with Spain's integration into the European Community in the mid-1980s. The central research question explores how historical structural challenges, accession negotiations, and institutional support mechanisms in Spain serve as a template for understanding the prospective development and current challenges of Polish agriculture within the EU.
- Historical comparison of agricultural starting points in Spain and Poland.
- Evaluation of transition periods and institutional frameworks (F.O.R.P.P.A. vs. S.A.P.A.R.D.).
- Analysis of production rates, subsidies, and the impact of the EU structural funds.
- Investigation of common fears regarding market destabilization and competitive pressure.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Difficult starting points in Spain and Poland
When Spain joined the EC in 1986, the country got over several years of political, social and economical changes after the regime of Franco. Until its end in 1975, the regime’s aim was the autarky of the Spanish grain production. The effect was on the one hand the cultivation of huge amounts of grain on unsuited soil, on the other hand the neglect of products like citrus fruits which were the greatest bringer of foreign exchange. Another bad estate of the Franco-regime was the non-solved problem of the land distribution. Huge lands were still in the hands of a few landowners in southern and western Spain, whereas small scale enterprises of less than 1 ha, often not enough to secure the existence of the family, were predominant in the north and central Spain.
Similar to Spain, Poland has to deal with problems deriving from its history until it was able to walk on the way to the EU. In contrast to other communist states, e.g. the German Democratic Republic, Poland’s agriculture had not been collectivised. Nearly 75% of the land was organised privately by small farms. Thoroughly, this had been an advantage during the period of socialist rule, supply gaps and scarce economy. Farmers were able to provide agricultural products for their families and for the local markets, which was advantageous not only for social life but also for the supply situation.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's aim to evaluate the effects of EU membership on Polish agriculture through a comparison with the historical Spanish accession experience.
1. The agricultural sector of Spain and Poland: This section provides a historical overview of the agricultural structures in both nations, highlighting the challenges of autarky in Spain and the legacy of non-collectivized small-scale farming in Poland.
2. Differences and similarities between the Spanish and the Polish accession: This chapter compares the institutional responses to integration, specifically the Spanish F.O.R.P.P.A. and the EU-led S.A.P.A.R.D. program, while discussing the impact of transition periods.
3. Comparison between the former Spanish and the common Polish expectations of the EC/EU accession: This part analyzes common fears regarding market destabilization and competitive pressure, proving that such threats were often overestimated in both historical contexts.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the key parallels between the two cases and suggests that Spain’s experience with structural funds offers a promising roadmap for Poland’s long-term agricultural development.
Keywords
European Union, Agricultural Policy, Poland, Spain, Accession, CAP, F.O.R.P.P.A., S.A.P.A.R.D., Structural Funds, Rural Development, Market Integration, Transition Periods, Small-scale Farming, Economic Comparison, Foreign Exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The paper focuses on the integration of the Polish agricultural sector into the European Union and the resulting economic and structural consequences.
What are the core themes addressed?
Key themes include historical agricultural conditions, the role of institutional frameworks in accession, the management of subsidies, and the comparative analysis of competitive outcomes between Spain and Poland.
What is the main objective of the study?
The study aims to use Spain's successful 1986 EC accession as a comparative template to better understand the future development prospects and challenges for Polish farmers.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a comparative historical and economic analysis, contrasting qualitative and quantitative data regarding agricultural labor force, GDP contribution, and institutional responses to European integration.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines historical starting points, the creation and function of support institutions like F.O.R.P.P.A. and S.A.P.A.R.D., and the validity of fears surrounding market competition and agricultural surplus.
What are the defining keywords of the work?
Important keywords include Agricultural Policy, Accession, CAP, Market Integration, and Rural Development, among others.
Why was the Spanish model chosen for comparison?
Spain was selected because it faced similar structural difficulties and market integration challenges when transitioning from an isolated, protected economy to a full member of the European Community.
How did institutional support differ between the two countries?
Spain relied on a national institution (F.O.R.P.P.A.) to navigate price negotiations and agricultural policy, whereas Poland has primarily utilized EU-wide programs like S.A.P.A.R.D. for structural adjustment.
- Quote paper
- Bernd Reismann (Author), 2005, The agricultural sector in Spain and Poland during the pre-accession period, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/49481
