Farmers and agricultural policy in Greece since the accession to the European Union

FOR GREEK FARMERS, the autumn of 1996 would have been a typical one weather-wise if it had not been for the heavy rainfall in September and October. Even these unusual climatic conditions would have passed unnoticed, had they not affected one of the main and most profitable crop of the country, cotton, the so-called 'white gold.' The aftermath of the rains was felt in three different ways: production was reduced by 20 per cent in some regions, harvest was hampered and the quality of the product (in terms of colour) was downgraded. Objectively speaking, this was by no means a natural disaster. However, the extra drops of rain were enough to make farmers seethe with discontent, causing their relations with the government, already deteriorating for the previous three years, to break down. Although the government promised favourable treatment of farmers with small and medium size holdings, a great number of tractors blocked the national roads, 'cutting the country into two,' according to the expression used by the mass media. This was not only the biggest and lengthiest mass reaction, but also the most militant one since the accession of Greece to the European Union. The twenty-five days of the blockade raised, perhaps more than ever before, some crucial questions concerning the future of Greek agriculture after the CAP reform, the relations between farmer and state and, broadly speaking, to politics, as well as the advisability of the Greek accession to the EU. This paper attempts to discuss the roots of this crisis, as it is our belief that it is not the product of a conjuncture (i.e., a decrease of farming income), but stems from the ideology and political practices regarding agricultural issues, which were adopted by various governments in the critical period between 1980 and 1990. On the other hand, in spite of its particularities, or rather, because of them, discussing Greek agricultural policy could raise awareness about the difficulties encountered by some of the weaker member states of the EU in following the process of the European integration, towards which the 1992 CAP reform undoubtedly constitutes a decisive step.