French farmers wary of CAP changes

The Fédération Nationale des d'Expliotants Agricoles (FNSEA), a French agricultural trade union organisation, expressed its hostile position towards any fundamental revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In a report entitled "The CAP in Question" that was presented at a conference this week, it was noted that the EU cannot reform the CAP every time there is a new food crisis. It argues that farmers need a stable economic environment before there is any revision of the CAP. The French agriculture union recommended loosening the budgetary controls of the EU and called for the return of budget flexibility. The FNSEA would like to see the CAP equipped with an instrument of management to deal with agricultural and food crises. They would also like the EU to create a special fund reserved for financing crises like BSE and foot-and-mouth disease. FNSEA have chosen "reasoned agriculture" as an alternative to intensive industrial farming practices. The concept involves a measurable use of various inputs at the most minimal level necessary, and promotes active participation in respecting and protecting the environment. After difficult negotiations between the fifteen Member States in March 1999, an agreement was reached for the financial framework of the CAP for the period 2000-2006. The agreement was concluded under the German presidency and limits EU agriculture expenditure to 40.5 billion Euro per annum. Source: Euractiv