Analysis of the evolution of farmers’ early retirement policy in Spain. The case of Castille and León

The aim of this paper is to present an empirical analysis of early retirement CAP (R. 2079/92) policy in Spain. The guidelines issued by the commission in 1985 (COM(85)750 last) emphasise the need to help young farmers to get started and describe the handicaps to be overcome by young individuals seeking to start up as farmers on account of reduced mobility in ownership of arable land. The early retirement policy is a structural and rural development policy (installation of young farmers, modernisation of agrarian structures). We explore the implementation of this process on a national and regional level in Spain and Castille and León, and review its inconsistencies and the interests of the parties involved. The early retirement scheme presents poor results because of its extra-cultural nature, unconnected with the traditions of inheritance and the farmers’ interests.