Shortly after the end of the Second World War, the six founding countries of the European Union implemented a common agricultural policy (CAP) with a view to increasing productivity, ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, stabilising markets, guaranteeing food supply and ensuring reasonable prices for consumers. This European agricultural policy served its purpose and helped to revolutionise agriculture in Europe whilst maintaining a diverse network of structures – the majority of which are family run – and adapting to the global challenges of improving competitiveness, safeguarding the environment and developing rural areas, which all stemmed from changes in society. Particular attention was even to small- and medium-sized farms and the integration of young people.