Plans seek to level playing field

SWEEPING plans to make European agriculture fairer for farmers and more environmentally friendly were unveiled in Brussels yesterday.

The European Commission, stung by constant criticism that the multi-billion euro-a-year Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is failing consumers and farmers alike, is proposing to reduce the vast subsidies for the few and target more cash on rural development and farming methods which help the environment.

Major reforms will not reduce the 45 billion a year cost of the CAP but it will redistribute cash to give poorer farmers a better deal and favour those who switch to agricultural methods which bring down costs.