Perceptions of EU Agricultural and Rural Development Policies in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean by European Stakeholders

This report analyses the views of EU stakeholders on EU policies relating to agriculture and rural development in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEM) region. First, it outlines the structure of the EU agricultural system and the growing importance of global value chains and associated European export interests. Secondly, it analyses trade interests of the EU in the SEM, as this is crucial for an understanding of what constitutes a stakeholder of EU SEM policies and what such stakeholders’ motivations might be. Thirdly, it gives an overview of EU policies and projects in the SEM. Fourthly, it outlines the stakeholder universe of such EU programmes in the SEM (i.e., farmer associations, lobby groups, research centres, NGOs and government bodies), and how they influence the EU policy process about the region. Fifthly and finally, it analyses the European stakeholders’ views on EU policies on agriculture and rural development in the SEM region, drawing on the interview consultation carried out between January and February 2018 as well as the publications of the respective organizations.