Blair calls for changes to EU farming subsidies

British Blair Prime Minister Tony Blair today called for fundamental changes to the European Union budget and its spending on farming subsidies.

Blair, who was vigorously defending the lucrative rebate Britain receives every year, insisted there could be no discussion on that cash-back guarantee unless the whole system of European financing and spending was negotiated.

He made the comments during a trip to Russia to discuss Britain’s ambitious G8 goals to lift Africa out of poverty.

“I will be, as is my way, diplomatic, but firm,” Blair said in Novo-Ogaryovo following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of an expected showdown with the leaders of France and Germany over the EU budget.

Blair insisted it was wrong for the EU to spend 40% of its budget on farming subsidies when only 5% of the population was employed in the agricultural sector responsible for 2% of total EU output.

“We have to ask the question: In the early 21st century, is a budget which is formed in this way the answer to the problems of Europe today?” Blair asked. “I do not think that it is.”