Rural development is being savaged by CAP reform

The effect of CAP reform on single farm payments is a hot political issue.

But it hides the fact that it is rural development which is really being savaged by the reform.

Like all negotiations, the outcome depends on your standpoint. From the point of view of farmers, agriculture ministers and MEPs have skilfully diverted the worst effects of reform away from them. But it’s a bad reform for anyone who puts a high value on rural development.