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This study is an evaluation of the Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) impact on\ud balanced territorial development (BTD) of rural areas across EU-28: socio-economic\ud aspects. The main focus of the study is on territorial development of rural areas, which\ud are investigated through the analysis of socio-economic aspects and social inclusion.\ud The evaluation work starts with a causal analysis which intended to scope and select\ud the CAP measures and instruments considered to have a direct impact on the general\ud objective of BTD in rural areas. The work is then articulated around five evaluation\ud criteria: effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance, European added value.\ud Several methods have been applied to gather and analyse both quantitative and\ud qualitative information. Sixteen evaluation study questions have been answered by\ud using quantitative methods such as input-output analysis, clustering, and statistical\ud regressions, as well as qualitative methods, including case studies, literature review\ud and the observation of development trends over the programming period.\ud According to the evaluation study findings, the issues and needs faced by rural regions\ud in the EU-28 are significant. The evaluation’s quantitative and case study findings\ud indicate that the impact of the CAP in supporting BTD through the improvement of\ud socioeconomic aspects and social inclusion varies according to the characteristics of\ud the rural region and the policy mix applied. Pillar I instruments, in particular direct\ud payments, have been found to positively impact regional employment and reinvestment. Pillar II measures, some of which are specifically designed to address\ud socio-economic issues, demonstrate also positive effects.

It is frequently argued that the EU should speak with a single voice on the international stage in order to play an effective role in the field of foreign policy. The representation of the EU by a single representative is often viewed as a remedy to this lack of a single voice. This article analyzes that argument and asks whether the relative disillusionment that followed the appointment of a president of the European Council and of a high representative of the EU suggests that stronger EU representation on the world stage is needed. The article argues that equating the institutionalization of a single representative with an ability on the part of the EU to speak with a single voice amounts to ‘magical thinking’ because no institutional engineering can overcome member states’ divisions. Furthermore, different successful cases of external action led by a few member states in spite of the lack of unanimity show that the single voice is an unhelpful myth. Lastly, the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty reforms reveals that the EU does not need stronger external representation and that any principle of representation relying on personalization should be dismissed as inadequate in the EU context.

This study analysed the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy’s role in creating rural jobs. Starting at the EU level, a thorough systematic literature review and a statistical analysis prepare the ground for more detailed Member Stare reviews and Case studies. When discussing the\ud findings the study concludes that the CAP supports the survival of small scale farms and contributes to sustain and develop rural economies. However, Pillar I payments have contradictory effects on employment and its ability in creating jobs appears to be limited. Pillar II is effective in supporting diversification, but concrete evidences of direct effects on employment are difficult to assess due to missing systematic reporting on job creation.