EC accused of 'back-door' dealing on CAP

The European Commission has been accused of less than transparent dealing on the Common Agricultural Policy, especially because of “back-door” concessions to Britain.

Fine Gael's Mairead Mc Guinness says a move to fund rural development is an attempt to water-down the CAP in order to appease British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

She said the CAP looks like a good idea on paper but in reality a lot of rural farmers will be "without money in their pockets".

This follows Tony Blair's refusal to sign-off on a new budget without cuts in farm spending.