The Environmental Dimension of the Common Agricultural Policy – An Overview

Since the Amsterdam Treaty (1997), the achievement of "balanced and sustainable development" has been mentioned, together with the promotion of economic and social progress and a high level of employment, as the first overall objective of the Union (Article 2 of the TEU), theoretically embracing, therefore, all its three pillars.
The promotion, however, of "a harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activities" is the principal task of the first pillar (that is, of the EC) that should be achieved by (among other things) "implementing common policies or activities" (Article 2 of the TEC).
The term "sustainability"2 entails by itself preservation of certain values related, in particular, with natural resources in a way that their exploitation to cover needs of the present does not limit or destroy the abilities to cover similar needs in the future3.