Specifics of Agricultural Policy in the Countries of Central-Eastern and SouthEastern Europe in 1990–2010s

Abstract

The article deals with reforms in the agricultural sector of the Central- and SouthEastern European countries both within the framework of their national economic policy and focusing on institutional harmonization with the European Union. The agrarian reforms were carried out against the background of market mechanisms' adaptation that varied depending on current cultural-economic patterns. In most cases, the use of the institutional environment parameters of developed Western countries aimed at working out guidelines for the agricultural sector reform in the post-socialist countries had no practical significance due to existing differences in economic modes and mutual discrepancy in rational business practices. The authors show peculiarities of the agricultural development in the countries of the region in 1990–2010s and single out the main differences between them as far as organizational structure, management practices, level of protectionism, production specialization and land regulation are concerned, including approaches to farm restructuring, privatization and regulation of land relations. The article also analyses current problems of the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in the new EU member states, primarily, the use of support mechanisms and rural development. In particular, the authors assess the prospects of the Central- and South-Eastern European countries' participation in the development of agricultural subsidies criteria and in monitoring of their use. Basing on the relevant empirical evidence, one can conclude that for the sake of developing convergence and institutional harmonization in the agricultural sector, the EU needs a differentiated approach to strategic planning and solving of agricultural problems in its new member states.