Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to put into an appropriate theoretical frame the rural
development issues in enlarging Europe and to analyse the rural development perspectives in the
European Union (EU) accession countries. Based on comparisons of developments in the
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and features of the rural areas in incumbent EU member
states with the status of the rural sectors in accession countries, implications for the future of
CAP are discussed. It is argued that despite coming from different development doctrines, the
dominant rural sector—agriculture—in both eastern and western Europe is similarly
characterized by dual structure. Thus, emphasis on rural development structural policies currently
being promoted by the reforming CAP can be fruitful in both new and incumbent member states.