‘CAP has important role in EU future’

THE Common Agricultural Policy has moved with the times to become a modern European Union policy with an important role to play in the future, according to Commissioner Mariann Fisher Boel in her internet blog.

She said the recent festivities in Berlin to celebrate the 50th birthday of the EU reminded her of the key role the CAP played in the creation of today’s EU.

“We clearly need a better set of rules to ensure that an EU of 27 member states functions smoothly. And we need to regain the confidence of our voters by being pragmatic and results-based,” she said.

Ms Fischer Boel said that the principle of cross compliance is one of the key elements of the 2003 CAP reforms.

“The reform broke the link between payments and production, freeing farmers to produce what the market wants rather than basing their decisions on the best combination of subsidies. But this does not mean that farmers get their money without any responsibilities. They receive their payments in return for respecting a number of standards. If they fail to reach the standards, their payments are cut,” she said.

The system has run into criticism from farmers for being too bureaucratic.

“That’s why I proposed a number of improvements on March 29 which I believe will make life easier for farmers,” she said.