CAP fear grows as Blair reveals budget plan

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair won the support of the new member states for his restructuring of the EU budget which Ireland and France fear will interfere with the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

However, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern warned that getting agreement on the EU’s seven-year multi-billion euro budget in December could be very difficult. He insisted the CAP should not be interfered with and made a strong case for protecting Europe’s food industry, emphasising the need for safe food.

During the day-long meeting in Hampton Court, French President Jacques Chirac threatened to veto a WTO deal if it interfered with the CAP.