Abstract

A retrospective analysis is made of the controversies between countries (communities) for the liberalization of international trade or for protectionism in its implementation with agricultural products. The analysis covers current and projected trends in the development of this process. The liberalisation pursued so far by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has had a strong negative impact on the economic development of developing countries. On the basis of an analysis of the way in which the agrarian and, more specifically, the land reform has been carried out in Bulgaria, the negative impact of full liberalization of agricultural prices on the overall development of agriculture in the country is shown. It is also established that the negative consequences of the accession process of the candidate countries to the EU will manifest themselves with the greatest force in the economy of those who will be the last to obtain full membership.