The role of common agricultural policy instruments in the European Union aimed at improving quality of living standards of rural inhabitants

Abstract

The article discusses the role of the main common agricultural policy (WPR) instruments in improving the quality of living standards of rural inhabitants. Following the data collected by the Ministry of Finance (MF) and the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture (ARiMR) an assessment concerning financial transfers of EU funds within WPR in the years developing rural areas. A special attention has been drawn to direct subsidies (SAPS) and their contribution to farming income. For that purpose the findings from quality research conducted among farmers from selected communities of two provinces – podkarpackie and swietokrzyskie, were used. It has been stated that during the years 2004–2016 the amount of financial transfers from the EU budget to Poland within WPR has equaled to 42,5 mld euro, which makes over one third of all the transfers which were made for Poland during the whole membership period. This fact is a confirmation of a great contribution of EU funds to the development of Polish farming and rural areas. Further this means that during the period in question, Poland was the greatest net beneficiary. Indications of the quality research has proved that over 43 % of the farmers under research, evaluates the condition of their farms as better since joining the EU by Poland, and 16 % of the farmers – as much better. Nevertheless, more critical group of owners were from the province of podkarpackie.