No. 59. THE GREEK AGRICULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF FOREIGH COMPETITION (in Greek)
A. Lampropoulou. 2005. | ISBN: 960-341-058-6.
There is a constant change of beliefs about the role of agriculture in the economy and an international trend to liberalize agricultural markets. Agricultural policies and means of achieving policy objectives tend to change accordingly.
Greek agriculture has to survive and function in an increasingly complex and competitive international environment.
The most significant challenges it faces in this respect are: The World Trade Organization Agreement which has resulted to the opening of world markets. The Common Agricultural Policy reforms which tend to gradually reduce the protection of agricultural products. And finally the enlargement of European Union to the east which is going to increase the internal competition in the european agricultural markets. These developments have resulted to changes of the Common Agricultural Policy which affect Greek agriculture directly or indirectly and will tend to be more significant in the future always in the direction of lower protection.
The object of this study is to investigate the above mentioned developments and assess their impact on Greek agriculture. The conclusion is that the sector has to increase its competitiveness to survive. Farmers have to try to lower costs of production and turn to products which can satisfy the new consumer standards. There is also a need for the state to promote research and extension services and promptly communicate the results to the producers together with any available information about the forthcoming changes in the competition from abroad in order to increase the speed and the flexibility of their adaptation to changes.