This chapter considers the evolution of policy for rural areas within
the European Union since the 1950s. It does so largely within the
context of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but gives some
consideration to the wider EU regional (including cohesion) policies as
these have helped shape rural development policy under the CAP. National
policies for rural development are not taken into account. The chapter
starts by describing the characteristics of rural areas. Next it gives
an overview of policy-making for rural areas from the late 1950s to
2000. The third section describes rural development policy/programming
since 1999/2000 to date. The chapter concludes with discussion and
conclusions on current policy for rural development and the EC proposals
for changes from 2021 onwards.