The setting up of the CAP
The setting up of the CAP
The Stresa Conference (3 to 12 July 1958)
‘The Stresa conference can bring about real progress’ from Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant
TexteOn 28 May 1958, the Dutch daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant outlines the implications of the agricultural conference to be held in Stresa.
Address given by Walter Hallstein at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 3 July 1958)
TexteOn 3 July 1958, Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community, sets out the objectives and tasks of the Stresa Agriculture Conference attended by the representatives of the six Member States of the Communities.
Statement by Anne Vondeling at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 3–12 July 1958)
TexteAt the Stresa Conference held from 3 to 12 July 1958 and attended by the six Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC), Anne Vondeling, Netherlands Agriculture Minister, calls for a better organisation of the common agricultural policy.
Report by Émile Colling at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 3–12 July 1958)
TexteOn 4 July 1958, the Luxembourg Agriculture Minister, Émile Colling, gives an address to the Stresa Agriculture Conference, held from 3 to 12 July 1958 and attended by the representatives of the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC). He outlines the implications of the special safeguard clause and the opinion of the Luxembourg Government with regard to the establishment of a common agricultural market.
Statement by Mario Ferrari-Aggradi at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 3–12 July 1958)
TexteAt the Agriculture Conference held in Stresa from 3 to 12 July 1958 and attended by the representatives of the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC), Mario Ferrari-Aggradi, Italian Agriculture Minister, describes the situation of Italian agriculture in the light of the challenge of a common agricultural policy.
Statement by Heinrich Lübke at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 3–12 July 1958)
TexteAt the Stresa Conference opening on 3 July 1958, Heinrich Lübke, German Agriculture Minister, outlines to the representatives of the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) the main measures for the establishment of a common market for agriculture.
Address given by Sicco Mansholt at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 3–12 July 1958)
TexteSicco Mansholt, Vice-President of the Commission of the EEC in charge of agriculture, thanks the delegations of the six Member States of the European Economic Community meeting in Stresa from 3 to 12 July 1958 to discuss the common agricultural policy.
Final Resolution adopted at the Agriculture Conference of the EEC Member States (Stresa, 12 July 1958)
TexteFinal Resolution adopted by the Delegations of the six Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC), meeting at the Stresa Agriculture Conference from 3 to 12 July 1958.
'Agriculture in the European arena' from the Süddeutsche Zeitung
TexteOn 23 and 24 August 1958, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung considers the stage reached in the negotiations on the common agricultural policy (CAP) and highlights the interests of German farmers.
'Opinion on the Stresa Resolution' from L'agriculture dans le marché commun
TexteIn November 1958, the European Confederation of Agriculture (ECA) expresses its opinion on the Resolution adopted by the Delegations of the six Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) following the Stresa Agriculture Conference held from 3 to 12 July 1958.
The Stresa Conference (3 to 12 July 1958)
ImageFrom 3 to 12 July 1958, the delegations of the Six meet in Stresa, Italy, to discuss the introduction of a common agricultural policy (CAP) with Walter Hallstein, President of the European Commission, and Sicco Mansholt, Commissioner with special responsibility for Agriculture.
Interview with Georges Rencki: the Stresa Conference (Tervuren, 23 November 2009)
VidéoIn this interview, Georges Rencki, former Deputy Director in the Private Office of Sicco Mansholt, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the common agricultural policy, discusses the organisation and outcome of the Stresa Conference held from 3 to 12 July 1958 on the establishment of a common agricultural policy.
Interview with Helmut von Vershuer: the Stresa Conference (Paris, 25 May 2009)
VidéoIn this interview, Helmut von Verschuer, former member of the Private Office of European Commissioner Sicco Mansholt, discusses the Commission’s preparations for the Stresa Conference of July 1958 and explains the importance of the outcome of this conference for the establishment of the common agricultural policy.
The proposals of the Commission
Proposals submitted by the Commission to the Council concerning the common organisation of the market in the cereals sector
TexteIn its proposals to the Council of Ministers, the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) includes a Regulation establishing a system of levies and the gradual creation of a common organisation of the market in the cereals sector.
Proposals submitted by the Commission to the Council concerning the common organisation of the market in the pigmeat sector
TexteIn its proposals to the Council of Ministers, the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) includes a Regulation on the gradual establishment of a common organisation of the market in the pigmeat sector.
Proposals submitted by the Commission to the Council concerning the common organisation of the market in the fruit and vegetables sector
TexteIn its proposals to the Council of Ministers, the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) includes a Regulation on the gradual establishment of a common organisation of the market in the fruit and vegetables sector.
Proposals submitted by the Commission to the Council concerning the common organisation of the market in the egg sector
TexteIn its proposals to the Council of Ministers, the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) includes a Regulation on the gradual establishment of a common organisation of the market in the egg sector.
Proposals submitted by the Commission to the Council concerning the common organisation of the market in the poultrymeat sector
TexteIn its proposals to the Council of Ministers, the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) includes a Regulation on the gradual establishment of a common organisation of the market in the poultrymeat sector.
Report by the EEC Commission on the implementation of the Treaty of Rome (January 1958–January 1962)
TexteIn its report on the implementation of the Treaty of Rome, the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC) reviews the achievements relating to the common organisation of the agricultural markets up to January 1962.
'The Mansholt Plan' from La Giustizia (27 September 1960)
TexteOn 27 September 1960, the Italian newspaper La Giustizia criticises the provisions laid down by the Mansholt Plan with a view to organising the common agricultural policy (CAP) and expresses concern over the social repercussions of the new proposal for a common agricultural market.
Information booklet on agriculture in the Common Market (1960)
TexteIn 1960, the monthly publication Communauté Européenne provides an entertaining overview of the implications and objectives of the future common agricultural policy (CAP).
Sicco Mansholt, The Crisis
TexteIn his memoirs, Sicco Mansholt, former Member of the Commission of the European Communities, describes the first faltering steps of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
‘S. L. Mansholt — the “great lock-keeper” of European agriculture’ from the Communauté européenne (February 1962)
TexteIn February 1962, the monthly publication Communauté européenne pays tribute to Sicco Mansholt, the architect of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
Sicco Mansholt
ImageSicco Mansholt, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner with special responsibility for agriculture from 1958 to 1973: the architect of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
The proposals of the Commission
Sicco Mansholt
PasseportThe first ‘agricultural marathon' (18 December 1961-14 January 1962)
Statement by Walter Hallstein at the outcome of the first ‘agricultural marathon' (14 January 1962)
TexteOn 14 January 1962, at the end of long agricultural negotiations, Walter Hallstein, President of the European Commission, welcomes the decision of the Council of Ministers to accelerate the introduction of the Customs Union and the common agricultural policy (CAP).
The first ‘agricultural marathon’ (Brussels, 14 January 1962)
VidéoOn 14 January 1962, following 140 hours of negotiations, the first European ‘agricultural marathon’ concludes with the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Six to move to the second stage of the transitional period and to organise common agricultural markets for each product, to apply specific rules on competition and to create a European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).
Sicco Mansholt, On the threshold of a common agricultural policy
TexteIn January 1962, Sicco Mansholt, Vice-President of the European Commission with special responsibility for agricultural policy, welcomes the decision taken by the Council of Ministers to move directly to the second stage of the European Customs Union and to introduce a common agricultural policy (CAP).
Cartoon by Low on France’s position on the common agricultural policy (3 January 1962)
ImageOn 3 January 1962, British cartoonist David Low takes an ironic look at the concerns of the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, vis-à-vis the attitude of Charles de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, who is trying to impose France’s agricultural demands on its five Common Market partners.
‘Prices, levies, funding of surpluses: three key issues for the common agricultural policy' from Le Monde (20 December 1961)
TexteOn 20 December 1961, the French daily newspaper Le Monde looks back at how political negotiations between the Six for the establishment of a common agricultural policy (CAP) were conducted.
‘European revolution' from the Corriere della Sera (15 January 1962)
TexteOn 15 January 1962, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera describes the significance of the measures adopted the previous day by the Council of Ministers of the Six in favour of the establishment of the Customs Union and the implementation of the first package of agricultural legislation.
'Pressure for unity' from the Süddeutsche Zeitung (16 January 1962)
TexteOn 16 January 1962, commenting on the decisions adopted in Brussels two days previously, following the first European ‘agricultural marathon’, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung welcomes the gradual establishment of a common agricultural market.
'It is not definite that prices will increase' from L'Intransigeant (18 January 1962)
TexteOn 18 January 1962, François Donati comments on the raft of decisions relating to agriculture adopted by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) and warns readers of L’Intransigeant against overenthusiasm.
Letter from Albert Borschette to Eugene Schaus (26 January 1962)
TexteOn 26 January 1962, Albert Borschette, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the European Communities, writes a letter to Eugene Schaus, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, commenting on the decisions of the Council of Ministers regarding the common agricultural policy (CAP).
Caricature de Pi sur De Gaulle et le marché commun agricole (22 février 1962)
Image"Attentat contre l'Europe ?" En février 1962, commentant les négociations en cours sur la politique agricole commune (PAC) entre les représentants des six États membres de la Communauté économique européenne (CEE), le caricaturiste Pi fustige dans le quotidien allemand Industriekurier la position jugée anti-européenne du général de Gaulle, président de la République française.
Interview with Helmut von Vershuer: the first agricultural marathon (Paris, 25 May 2009)
VidéoIn this interview, Helmut von Verschuer, former member of the Private Office of European Commissioner Sicco Mansholt, recalls the difficult negotiations on the common agricultural policy during the first agricultural marathon from December 1961 to January 1962.
Setting up of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
‘Agreement on the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund' from the Corriere della Sera (14 January 1962)
TexteOn 14 January 1962, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera gives an account of the difficulties faced by the Six in reaching an agreement on the establishment of a European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) designed to guarantee the financing of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
Council Regulation (EEC) No 25 (4 April 1962)
TexteIn Regulation (EEC) No 25 of 4 April 1962 on the financing of the common agricultural policy, the Council establishes a European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and lays down some rules relating to financial policy. Furthermore, it decides that the levies on agricultural imports from third countries constitute own resources for the Community.
‘New Community action to upgrade agricultural systems' from the Communauté européenne (September 1956)
TexteIn September 1966, the monthly publication Communauté européenne comments on improvements to agricultural structures and outlines the way in which the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) works.