Integrating agriculture and environment in Spain. On the new Spanish Minister of Environment and Rural Milieu and Fishery

Abstract

This article analyses some factors explaining the creation of the new Ministry of Environment and Rural Areas, and Fishery in Spain, which has implied the suppression of the former ministries of Agriculture and Environment. The author thinks this decision of President Zapatero could be explained by the political and economic changes that are undergoing the international markets of foods and that are opening a new political scenario where the farming production becomes a priority again for national governments. The author also considers that after two decades in Spain where the separated management of agriculture and environment in two different government departments had provoked negative effects on the development of natural areas. This is another reason why the President Zapatero has decided to integrate again environment and agriculture in a new minister. Finally, the author thinks the existence of this new Ministry of Environment and Rural Areas, and Fisheries, makes change the old scenario of social interlocution where farmer’s unions had the monopoly of representation of agricultural interests, and ecologist organisations that of environmental interests. He beliefs that new scenario will be more open and pluralist than before, allowing other interest groups to participate in the dynamics of interlocution.