CAP reform trump cards

Inflexibility on CAP proposals was only to be expected, when EU Commissioner for agriculture and rural development Dacian Ciolos came to Ireland.

With more diverse lobbies than ever to be satisfied in this round of negotiations, it will be well into the negotiations before the commissioner can afford to show any sign of unravelling in his plans.

Any sign of weakness would be pounced on by member states, MEPs, taxpayers, and farmers.