Topic:
France is the agricultural leader in the EU. Over the years, this sector has undergone significant structural and social changes while farmers' organizations have played an important role in this development. The country has had a strong influence on the formation and evolution of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and receives the biggest farming subsidies from its budget. State interventions in this sector are often legitimated by an effort to attain economic, social or environmental objectives.
Despite the admirable performance, the sector has dealt with numerous issues, including environmental damage caused by the traditional industrial farming. Due to the deteriorating state of the environment, the recent CAP reforms have introduced strict environmental standards pursuing agroecology approach, which are often considered by farmers as a competitive disadvantage. Moreover, the negotiations about cutting the CAP budget after the Brexit present also a threat to farmers who are worried that aid payments will not be enough to offset their losses.

Thesis objective:
The objective of the thesis is to explain and discuss responses of French agricultural sector to structural, environmental and social changes within last few decades through the implementation of environmental policies in the light of evolution of European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and provide the outlook for upcoming future.

Thesis structure:
1. Development of French agricultural sector after WW2; modernization in 1960', farmers' organizations
2. EU policy, CAP concept and reforms
3. Characteristics of today's French agriculture
4. Agroecology, environmental policies and regulations and responses of the agricultural sector
5. Current problems and possible solutions