In this paper the efficiency and productivity of the agricultural sectors in the EU countries and the thirteen candidate countries is investigated. For this purpose the DEA-based Malmquist productivity index is applied, a non-parametric approach that decomposes productivity changes into a technical efficiency change component and a technical change component, thereby allowing for the assessment of the comparative effectiveness of decision-making units. Results ascertain the differential effectiveness of agricultural sectors in the European countries, enable the identification of those with relative efficient agricultural sectors and provide information on the situation of the convergence process between EU and candidate countries.