Trade talks not to dictate EU policy

THE European Union will not allow the world trade talks to be the main driver of its domestic policy for farms and rural areas in the years ahead.

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel made this clear when she addressed an Agra Europe outlook conference on the prospects for Common Agricultural Policy reform in London.

“Some of our trade partners seem to think the European Union should agree to swallow just about anything in these negotiations in terms of agricultural concessions, even if that means re-modelling the CAP all over again,” she said.

“They are wrong. The CAP reforms which are already underway have enabled us to table a very valuable agricultural offer in the Doha Round. We have some further flexibility — but it’s limited.”

Ms Fischer Boel said although the EU will continue to push hard for success in the talks, the onus is now on others.

“There must be balance within the agricultural talks. In particular, the US must make a greater effort to discipline its trade-distorting domestic farm support.

Ms Fischer Boel re-stated her belief that the EU should not renew the milk quota system when it expires in 2015.

“The case against quotas is strong. Milk quotas are a strongly anti-competitive policy.”