Commissioners mostly supportive of CAP reforms
The European Commission approved his plan without a vote, and with only two muted dissenting voices.
Michel Barnier, one of the two French commissioners, spoke out strongly against the proposals.
He pointed out that there was already a major reform in 1999, and farmers needed stability rather than yet another huge shake-up of their industry.
Concerns about the farm proposals were also raised by Loyola de Palacio, the Spanish commissioner, who was involved in a public spat with Mr Fischler over his reform plans for the fisheries sector earlier this year.
Michaele Schreyer, the budget commissioner from Germany, said even greater efforts should be made to save money, than were proposed.
Ireland’s EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, has said the measures would benefit farmers and consumers alike.
Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler hopes to win agreement on the proposals by next spring.
Ireland’s Minister Joe Walsh says the Council of Agriculture Ministers will go to great lengths to find all round satisfactory solutions to the proposals.
Only if these attempts fail will the issue be decided by a vote.
The vote would have to be carried by a qualified, or weighted, majority of EU member state governments. The votes of the Member States are weighted according to population and adjusted in favour of the less populous countries in the following way: Germany, France, Italy and the UK have 10 votes each; Spain has 8; Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal have 5; Austria and Sweden 4; Denmark, Ireland and Finland 3; Luxembourg 2.
A unanimous vote is not needed, because the proposals do not involve an overall budget change.
