ABSTRACT
In the thirty-five years of its existence, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has contributed decisively in the transformation of agriculture for member states by means of a common rural development philosophy, common institutions, and an extensive set of policy measures. It is often found, however, that not all transformations, completed or under completion, promote themselves at the same rate. Despite the common elements among farming systems in the different parts of Europe, the process of agricultural integration remains un-integrated among farming systems that are markedly coloured by their geographical and historical heritage. 1 Mediterranean Europe’s bio-climatic uniqueness and age-old history (imprinted on its rural landscapes and its cultural identities), for example, set it apart.
