The Euro-Mediterranean free trade area is usually seen as a challenge by Southern European agriculture. This paper provides an overview of the economic and political constrains on the inclusion of the agricultural trade as an essential element of the Euro-Mediterranean economic space. The discussion includes an assessment of the existing EU trade concessions granted to Southern Mediterranean countries, a reference of the present imbalances of the Common Agricultural Policy and a review of the debate on fair trade as a precondition to free trade. The paper supports the view that the rural sector should deserve more attention in the current negotiations within the Barcelona process leading to a Euro-Mediterranean zone of partnership and prosperity.