On 16 June 1980, the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel describes the critical situation of the European agricultural market at the beginning of the 1980s.

On 16 November 1981, dissatisfied farmers gather in Brussels and demonstrate alongside the Council of Agriculture Ministers, calling for a fair reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In 1981, at the foot of the European institutions in Brussels, Belgian farmers demonstrate for a more equitable common agricultural policy and demand a fair price for their work.

On 8 February 1983, West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher gave a speech to the European Parliament welcoming the agreement setting out the common fisheries policy.

In November 1980, Bernard Auberger, French Inspector General of Finance, publishes an article in the monthly publication Revue du Marché commun in which he calls for a reform of the current common agricultural policy.

‘The building of the Tower in Brussels.’ In 1981, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, takes an ironic look at the establishment by the Ten of the common agricultural policy (CAP) which is proving to be as complicated as the construction of the Tower of Babel.

‘Oh Zeus, those were the days when You were still a bull!’ On 6 December 1983, following the Athens European Council, the cartoonist, Horst Haitzinger, illustrates the significance of the budgetary imbalances in Europe and the difficulties involved in adapting the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 27 February 1984, the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel considers the fallout from the political crisis which threatens the European Economic Community (EEC) if the Ten fail to agree on the funding of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 19 and 20 March 1984, the first European Council of the year is held in Brussels. Despite intense preparation, the Council is nevertheless unable to reach agreement on the issue of the correction of the British contribution to the Community budget. Some progress is made, however, subject to an overall agreement being secured; particular mention should be made of the confirmation of the agreement on the broad compromise for reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The photo shows a demonstration by the National Young Farmers’ Union (SNJA) in Brussels.

In 1986, Eisso P. Woltjer, Member of the European Parliament and specialist in agricultural issues, comments on the importance of the agricultural expenditure provided for in the Community budget.

In 1986, reacting to the difficulties facing the European agricultural market, the German cartoonist Hanel portrays the need to reform the common agricultural policy (CAP).

‘The difficult ascent of the euro-obstacle.’ In 1986 the cartoonist Behrendt gives his view of the difficulties in which the common agricultural policy (CAP) finds itself.

In January 1991, the European Commission presents its programme for the current year to the European Parliament and focuses particularly on the question of the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 15 January 1991, in connection with the Uruguay Round negotiations, Leon Brittan, European Commissioner for Competition, considers the difficult negotiations between the United States and the European Community on the issue of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 24 January 1991, Martin Bangemann, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Industrial Affairs, sets out the essential aim of the reform of the common agricultural policy and raises the question of the handling of the agricultural debate during the Uruguay Round negotiations.

In 1991, the European Commission submits to the Council and to the Parliament a discussion paper, a follow-up to the documents COM(91) 100 and COM(91)258, on the development and the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 11 December 1991, the European Parliament adopts a resolution examining the European Commission’s proposals on the evolution and future of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

From 18 to 21 May 1992, after final negotiations in Brussels, the Council of European Agricultural Ministers reaches a political agreement on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 22 May 1992, at the end of the 59th Franco–German Summit held in La Rochelle, François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic, answers questions from journalists on French farmers’ anger at the reform of the common agricultural policy and on the consequences that the recent decisions relating to agriculture might have on the GATT negotiations.

On 22 May 1992, the British left-wing daily newspaper The Guardian speculates on the genuine ability of the European Community to reform the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 23 May 1992, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung examines reactions in Germany to the Council Decision, taken two days earlier, to introduce far-reaching reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

On 23 May 1992, the French communist daily newspaper L’Humanité criticises the new reform of the common agricultural policy and sees it as a capitulation of European agriculture to the demands of the United States, especially in the context of the GATT negotiations.

On 23 May 1992, the French newspaper Le Monde examines the measures set out under the agreement on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), concluded by the Twelve two days earlier in Brussels, and talks of a shake-up of European agriculture.

On 11 June 1992, during an address given at the session of the Permanent Assembly of the Chambers of Agriculture, French Prime Minister Pierre Bérégovoy refers to the new reform of the common agricultural policy and outlines its advantages for French agriculture.

On 12 June 1992, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Ray MacSharry, outlines to the European Parliament the main thrust of the new reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and describes the difficult discussions over the issue of agriculture during the multilateral GATT negotiations.

On 25 June 1992, reporting on the outcome of the farmers’ demonstrations in France, the daily newspaper Le Monde criticises the workings of the modern agricultural world and deplores previous agricultural policies that have led to the current crisis.

On 30 June 1992, the French daily newspaper Le Monde reviews the agricultural policies of the past 30 years and comments on the issues surrounding the new reform of the common agricultural policy.

On 2 July 1992, the French communist daily newspaper L’Humanité deplores the signing of an agreement on the rules of application for the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) by the Agriculture Ministers of the Twelve on 30 June 1992 in Luxembourg City, and echoes the popular protest being led by the farming community.

On 8 July 1992, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the methods for implementing the new reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 8 July 1992, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the consequences of the reform of the common agricultural policy and particularly focuses on the differences of opinion between the United States and the European Community during the GATT negotiations.

In August 1992, the French bimonthly publication Paysans takes a detailed look at the future provisions of the new reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In November 1992, the French monthly newspaper Le Monde diplomatique analyses the Community price support policy pursued for European agriculture and analyses the possible repercussions of the new common agricultural policy.

On 18 January 1996, Jochen Borchert, German Agriculture Minister, delivers an address at the winter conference of the German Agricultural Association in Berlin in which he emphasises the need for a reform of the European agricultural market.

In this interview conducted on 14 March 2005, Louis Mermaz, French Minister for Agriculture and Forestry from 1990 to 1992, recalls the difficult negotiations among the Europe of Twelve and within the framework of the GATT on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In this interview, Georges Rencki, Head of Division responsible for the policy to modernise agricultural structures in the Directorate-General for Agriculture from 1968 to 1977, describes the main elements of the reform proposed by Ray MacSharry, European Commissioner for Agriculture, in the early 1990s, and explains how this reform was continued with the reform adopted at the Berlin European Council in March 1999.