The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was the first policy to specifically address mountain regions at European level, through Directive 75/268/EEC on mountain and hill-farming in less favoured areas (LFAs). Since 1975, the CAP instruments promoting the sustainable development of mountain agriculture and the well-being of mountain rural areas have significantly developed, responding to society's requirements and to the changing circumstances of the areas concerned. The attention given to the sustainable development of mountain areas by international fora has increased significantly since the 1990s and during the first decade of this century, with the designation of 2002 as International Year of Mountains and with the inclusion in the Lisbon Treaty of a specific mention to mountain areas, together with other areas presenting specific characters such as northernmost regions, island and cross-border regions. Even if there is no stand-alone European Union (EU) mountain agriculture policy, the EU has developed specific instruments which are particularly relevant to mountain rural areas, both under the first and the second pillar of the CAP.