The European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is set to undergo comprehensive reforms, known as Agenda 2000, next year. The twofold objective of these reforms is to ensure the sustainability of European agriculture and to protect the livelihood of European farmers. In May 1999, the European Council officially adopted new financial and political guidelines—dubbed the Berlin Accord— that will increase government support to farmers through direct payments while reducing support prices for cereals, beef, and dairy products.