From 3 to 12 July 1958, the delegations of the Six met 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 for Agriculture.

In 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.

‘I might have a good appetite, but you’re not going to get me to swallow all that!’ [Clockwise from left: cereals, beef, butter, rice, Brussels.] The German Chancellor, Ludwig Erhard, resists the attempts made by France, represented by the Agriculture Minister, Edgar Pisani, to make him swallow French demands concerning the price of agricultural produce in December 1963.

‘Plough together? Willingly.’ In December 1963, the cartoonist Behrendt portrays the difficult negotiations between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on the establishment of a common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 21 December 1968, the European Commission submits to the Council a memorandum on agricultural reform. This is the Agriculture 1980 plan, also known as the Mansholt Plan, named after the European Commissioner with special responsibility for agriculture.

‘Dum, dum, dumped — No way through the garbage.’ In March 1971, the discontent in the European farming sector over plans to reform the common agricultural policy (CAP) proposed by Sicco Mansholt, European Commissioner with special responsibility for agriculture, comes to a head.

‘Working at full stretch. And now, once again, it’s our French colleague’s turn to play us his record.’ On 4 October 1975, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung deplores the attitude of the European Agriculture Ministers, who, despite their declarations of intent, are dragging their feet when it comes to implementing a reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In 1999, Hanel, German cartoonist, depicts Agenda 2000 as an obstacle to the continuation of the common agricultural policy (CAP).