A convinced European federalist, Sicco Mansholt envisioned a common agricultural policy for Europe. In 1950, he drafted a plan for a common market of agricultural products in Europe, with a supranational administrative structure. Although this plan was not successful at the time, it was later revived and became a source of inspiration for the agricultural policy of the European Economic Community.
Mansholt found the opportunity to promote his plans for a common policy when he assumed the duties of Commissioner for Agriculture in the first European Commission in 1958.
As a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II, Mansholt witnessed the horrors of the famine that ravaged the Netherlands at the end of the war. After the liberation of the Netherlands, he committed himself to work tirelessly to ensure that Europe would never again experience war or deprivation.
Mansholt grew up on a farm and utilized his experiences in his role as Minister of Agriculture in the Dutch post-war government. Due to the severe food shortage and looming crisis, he took certain measures to quickly restore food resources. He established minimum prices for the most important agricultural products, while simultaneously imposing taxes on imports and implementing export support measures. He was convinced that all of Europe needed to become self-sufficient and that a stable supply of affordable food should be ensured for everyone.
