Boel urges internet debate on CAP

AN INTERNET debate on the health check of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is being urged by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel.

Farmers, environmentalists, consumers and non-governmental organisations have been invited to share their opinions. In order to ensure a broad and open debate, the European Commission has launched a special website for the health check and called two conferences.

A general stakeholders’ hearing yesterday dealt with all the relevant topics covered and on January 11 a special conference on the future of the dairy sector will take place.

Both conferences will be open to the public through web-streaming on the health check website of DG Agriculture.

Ms Fischer Boel said the CAP is paid for by public money and does a lot more than simply support farmers’ incomes.

“It also provides environmental protection, safe and quality food, animal welfare and the promotion of jobs and growth in rural areas.

“That is why I want to hear from everyone who has an opinion. Only that way can we make changes that genuinely reflect what people want,” she said.

Ms Fischer Boel is urging everyone in the blogosphere to engage in the debate said her blog, at www.tinyurl.com/2nldrv, is the perfect place for this dialogue to happen.