Of the ten Central and Eastern European countries that have applied for membership in the European Union, Romania ranks among the largest and most impoverished. Romania represents the final challenge in the European Union's enlargement to the east, largely due to its major, but underdeveloped, agriculture and food sectors. The agriculture industry, which is a major component of the national economy, extends its pervasive influence to both Romanian social life and environment. Consequently, the transition towards a market oriented economic system will pose new obstacles for the country's...

Integrated Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas in Central European Countries presents the exciting results of original research on the integrated development of agriculture and rural areas in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. This edited collection includes academics from both Western and Central European Countries who worked together on a three-year research project. The project yielded unique data that covers different aspects of rural development-both agriculture and non-agricultural activities-and is of special relevance owing to these countries' status as new members of the...

Most of the written material on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is about the details of the day. This work offers an understanding of why the policies are as they are, how they attempt to tackle the problems faced in the European Union and the degree of success they achieve, and the prospects for change.