French set out their position on CAP reform

FRENCH Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier has promised to oppose British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s call to scrap all market-based support and payments to farmers by 2020.

But France may accept reducing payments to large farms if that money were re-directed into mechanisms, such as income insurance for farmers and subsidised private storage of excess farm produce.

Barnier said France wanted to kick off debate on the CAP, due to be reformed in 2013, when it takes over the EU’s rotating presidency in the second half of 2008.