GATT's Final Act is expected to cause significant changes in the agricultural sector and in the rural society of the Mediterranean European Countries (MEC). Increasing competition in the world markets will force conventional agriculture to become more capital intensive, thus adding to the problems of rural unemployment and skewed distribution of income. Therefore, an integrated approach toward sustainable rural development needs to be adopted. Conventional agricultural practices should target young farmers, whereas supplementary rural development policies should aim at absorbing the shocks in agriculture. Such policies include the adoption of alternative farming systems, incentives for the settlement of young farmers, women, and specialized professionals in rural areas, and the effective use of Community programs.