EU ‘cannot duck competitiveness’

THE EU cannot duck the challenge of competitiveness, Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel told the European Farmers Congress in Strasbourg yesterday.

She said most European citizens are still prepared to pay public money to farmers — but they want to see it spent well.

“At a time when other economic sectors have to make huge restructuring efforts, our taxpayers are not willing to hand over large sums to agriculture simply to hide a lack of competitiveness,” she said.