The continuing failure of Agriculture Ministers to reach any agreement on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a big let down for Europe’s citizens. The meeting of the EU Agriculture Council was delayed on 19 June 2003 so that the French Delegation could contact President Chirac to establish whether there is any flexibility in his ’NON’ position.
CAP reform has enormous potential benefits for health and welfare, consumers, the environment and sustainable farming in both the EU and the developing world. The failure to reach any agreement on CAP reform of value to taxpayers is bad timing and bad judgement for EU leaders. The deal on the table will bring small public benefits: making farmers comply with EU rules on the environment, health and welfare and shifting money from direct aid to rural development are both small steps in the right direction. The reform on the table should go much further in bringing benefits to the European public, but for Ministers to be incapable of agreeing any reform is simply a disgrace.
